Lens had done their part by beating Auxerre, but Nantes had to do their own and end their run of 14 games without a win to catch up two points behind the Burgundians.

In the lead after a quarter of an hour of play thanks to a goal from Ignatius Ganago (16th), the Canaries struggled to maintain their lead, supported by a fervent public who invaded the field to shouts of "We are in Ligue 1" at the final whistle.

While the Loire stand was closed following a disciplinary sanction, several dozen Ultras had taken place in the opposite bend, usually rather family.

They had entered shouting at President Waldemar Kita with cries of "Waldemar break yourself", "FC Kita we do not want" and had installed a banner "FC Nantes is for sale". A sentiment shared by the Angevins, who came with a banner "Faithful to our colors, not to our gravediggers".

But the call for "sacred union" launched by Nantes coach Pierre Aristouy was well received by the 27,000 or so Nantes fans who made as much noise if not more than when the stadium is full.

On the field, the Nantes, with the same starting eleven as last week in Lille, were conquerors from the outset, like a beautiful collective movement initiated by the combative captain Samuel Moutoussamy and concluded by a recovery just above Marcus Coco (8th).

Issue

And after superb work by Ludovic Blas on the right, Ignatius Ganago made the stadium exult with a recovery under the bar (1-0, 16th). Shortly after, an almost as loud clamour rose in the stands: Lens had just opened the scoring in Auxerre.

Ignatius Ganago on June 3 in Nantes © Sebastien SALOM-GOMIS / AFP

But the Canaries gradually backed down, missing several chances to make the break, especially by Blas: a strike close to the post, offside actions, a free kick pushed away by Yahia Fofana, a badly managed Ganago caviar...

The correction did not go far with a goal from Abdallah Sima on a breakthrough by Nabil Bentaleb, cancelled for offside (45th + 3). The Angevin pressure increased further after the hour of play, and the Nantes began to show signs of nervousness.

A team huddled in defence, players visibly exhausted, a bench in asphyxiation, supporters who ovation each mistake in Angevin, shout and jump in chorus: the last minutes were tense... until delivery.

© 2023 AFP