Paris (AFP)
Before the verdict of Ligue 1 on Sunday, a small anthology of some significant outcomes of the French football championship that took place on the last day:
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1978: the promoted Monaco surprises Nantes
Promoted at the start of the season, Monaco conquered at the last minute a third title after those of 1961 and 1963, already with coach Lucien Leduc.
In addition to his young goalkeeper of 22 years Jean-Luc Ettori, the ASM is carried by his flamboyant attacking duo composed of the Argentinian Delio Onnis (29 goals) and Christian Dalger (18).
On the penultimate day, Nantes lost their heads by conceding a surprising draw with the red lantern Rouen (0-0) while the Monegasques will beat Paris SG (2-1).
On the 38th day, the title holders demolished Nice (6-1), in vain, because Monaco won narrowly in front of Bastia (2-1).
The Canaries, who beat captain Jean Petit's team at home (1-0) and then drew in the Principality (1-1), can harbor great regrets.
They will experience the same disillusionment at the last day of the following season, this time ahead of Strasbourg.
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1998: Lens shouts politeness in Metz
At the end of a crazy season, Lens, also a finalist in the Coupe de France, won the first league title in its history on May 9, 1998.
On the 34th and final day, the team coached by Daniel Leclercq pulled off a draw on Auxerre (1-1), allowing him to get ahead of the goal-average Messins of Jöel Muller, winners of Lyon (1-0 ).
Stéphane Ziani's teammates return in the night to Lens, where nearly 35,000 fans are waiting for a memorable party at the Bollaert stadium.
The decisive meeting for the title was played five weeks earlier when the Lensois won in Metz (2-0) on behalf of the 30th day.
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1999: Bordeaux frustrates Marseille in Paris
On the 34th day, Bordeaux must win in Paris to secure the title under penalty of being overtaken if Marseille wins in Nantes.
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While PSG equalized at 2-2 with a quarter of an hour from the end, the Marseillais, who will win 1-0 at Beaujoire, are virtually champions with a point in advance.
But just before the stoppage of play, to the great joy of part of the public of the Parc des Princes, Pascal Feindouno, 18, just started by Elie Baup, wins his duel against Bernard Lama and offers a fifth crown to the Girondins .
Marseille supporters will point the finger at the guilty passivity of some Parisian players but that will not change the immense disappointment of the team of Rolland Courbis, also beaten in the final of the UEFA Cup by Parma (3-0).
The Parisians who beat OM in a snatch three weeks earlier (2-1) will have been the referee of a hard-fought title.
Ten years later, Yoann Gourcuff's Bordeaux will also be crowned in front of Marseille on the final day.
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2002: Lyon covers Lens at the post
By beating RC Lens (3-1) on May 4, 2002, Olympique Lyonnais not only won their first league title.
The club, taken over in D2 by Jean-Michel Aulas in 1987, began to dominate French football for almost a decade.
Early goals from Sidney Govou and Philippe Violeau put the Rhone club on the right track.
The reduction of the score by Jacek Bak at the half-hour mark causes a cold sweat in the Gones, but Pierre Laigle is responsible for putting an end to the suspense at the start of the second period, in an overheated Gerland stadium.
Since this Lyon triumph, the identity of the leader of Ligue 1 has not changed on the occasion of a last day.
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2012: Montpellier taunts Qatari PSG
Paris SG, passed under the Qatari flag a year earlier and with very large resources, nevertheless failed in the quest for a third title, the fault of the Montpellier sensation.
The two teams have made a crossover in the lead since the 7th day but the Hérault club has taken the lead since the 29th.
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For its last match, the squad led by Olivier Giroud (21 goals) can be satisfied with a draw.
It will nevertheless win in Auxerre (2-1) while Paris wins in vain in Lorient by the same score.
As promised, President Louis Nicollin, who took the reins of the club in 1974 while he was living in the honor division, wears a multicolored crest to celebrate the title.
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