Saint-Etienne Struggling in Champions League, Surprisingly Relegated in Ligue 1, Key Highlights from the Final Day
Game Over, That's a Wrap. After a grueling 34-match Ligue 1 season filled with unexpected turns and nail-biting finishes, the Ligue 1 curtain has finally fallen on the 2024-2025 season, and we now know the destiny of the 18 teams.
The French men's soccer championship was dominated by Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), who claimed their 13th title, with Olympique de Marseille, AS Monaco, and OGC Nice joining them in the Champions League (preliminary round for Nice). At the opposite end of the table, Le Havre clinched their survival in dramatic fashion, scoring a penalty in the 10th minute of added time to send them to heaven, while Reims fell to purgatory, but there was no miracle for Saint-Étienne, who were relegated just a year after their return to the top division.
Fights for Europe
With PSG taking the title weeks ago, the only surprise at the Parc des Princes was the brand new championship trophy that the Parisians lifted after their 3-1 win over Auxerre. Adieu, Hexagoal, PSG introduced a new trophy, unveiled by the Professional Football League (LFP) on Saturday.
Much like PSG, OM and Monaco had secured their spots in the Champions League a week prior, but Marseille sealed their second place with ease, crushing Rennes 4-2, putting their attacker Mason Greenwood alongside Parisian Ousmane Dembélé atop the Ligue 1 goalscorers. While the Monegasques tasted defeat at Lens (0-4), their co-rivals from Nice grabbed their chance to qualify for the Champions League preliminaries. They demolished Brest at home (6-0) and finished fourth, edging out Lille (Europa League) and Lyon (Europa Conference League), who secured their European spots by beating Reims (2-1) and Angers (2-0), respectively.
The Survivor Battle
Montpellier knew before this 34th game that their stay in Ligue 1 would end. They'll be joined by Saint-Étienne in Ligue 2. The Greens couldn't overcome Toulouse (2-3) and will return to Ligue 2, just a year after their promotion. While FC Nantes made their survival a walk in the park by battering Montpellier (3-0), the final game ended in a thrilling fashion in Strasbourg's favor. The daredevils from Le Havre, who were in the hunt for Europe for much of the game, ultimately clinched a dramatic 3-2 win with a penalty in the 10th minute of added time by their captain Abdoulaye Touré.
The Goodbye Nights
Beyond the sporting consequences, this final Ligue 1 matchday provided several players a chance to bid their historic clubs farewell. In Lyon, star forward Alexandre Lacazette put his boyhood club on the path to success, netting a brace and surpassing 200 goals for Lyon before leaving to a standing ovation. At Marseille, the Stade Vélodrome crowd paid heartfelt tribute to a former Rennes goalkeeper, now a substitute, Steve Mandanda, who entered the field in the final moments of his previous home stadium, ending his Ligue 1 journey with a touching sendoff.
Current Ligue 1 Standings (as of May 2025)
- Paris Saint-Germain (84 points, champions)
- Marseille (65)
- Monaco (61)
- Nice (60)
- Lille (60)
- Lyon (57)
- Strasbourg (57)
- Lens (52)
- Brest (50)
- Toulouse (42)
- Auxerre (42)
- Rennes (41)
- Nantes (36)
- Angers (36)
- Le Havre (34)
- Reims (33)
- Saint-Étienne (30, relegated)
- Montpellier (16, relegated)
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[1] - PSG Clinch 13th Title[2] - Marseille Secure Second Place[3] - Nice Qualify for Champions League Preliminaries[4] - Lyon Settle for Europa Conference League[5] - Brest Crushed by Nice[6] - Toulouse Overcome Montpellier[7] - Le Havre Secure Survival in Dramatic Fashion[8] - Lacazette Bids Farewell to Lyon[9] - Mandanda Honored by Marseille Fans
In the European league qualifications, Green Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) champions, Mason Greenwood of Olympique de Marseille, and AS Monaco's attackers will join the Champions League, while Nice advances to the Champions League preliminaries. In the Europa Conference League, Lyon will represent France.
In the final matchday of the Ligue 1 season, the sports world bid farewell to notable players such as Alexandre Lacazette of Lyon and Steve Mandanda of Marseille, both departing after touching tributes from their fans.
