Giants in relegation scrap
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ByEurosport
Published 27/05/2005 at 10:42 GMT
French legends Girondins Bordeaux and Nantes will both battle to save their places in Saturday's Ligue 1 finale. With three teams going down, two of France's former leading lights are staring down the barrel of an ignominious drop into Ligue 2. LIVE scori
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How could they collapse like that? In the last few weeks, French football fans have been wondering how Nantes have fallen to 19th place in the 20-team Ligue 1 with just one game remaining.
Nantes is the oldest Ligue 1 club as they have been in the highest level for more than forty years. In that period, they have won eight championships, three French cups and reached the Champions League semi-finals in 1996.
Known for their brilliant youth Academy who formed players like Didier Deschamps, Marcel Desailly, Christian Karembeu and Claude Makelele, Nantes have endured a nightmare season.
In January, with the club already ranked 15th, captain Mickael Landreau led a 'player putsch' to provoke the dismissal of coach Loïc Amisse.
The arrival of Amisse's successor, Serge Le Dizet, has failed to transform their poor results into a winning streak. As all their rivals won last week, Nantes finally fell from 16th into the relegation mire, taking their fate out of their own hands.
"We are very near Ligue 2," said midfielder Nicolas Savinaud. "But even if there is only a five percent chance of escape we must do everything we can.
Their destiny does not only depend on a home victory over Metz.
If you ignore the already-condemned Istres (29pts), no less than six sides are fighting against relegation. Nantes have 40 points (goal difference -6), Bastia 41 (-14), Caen (-23) and Ajaccio 42 (-6), Bordeaux 43 (-4) and Metz 44 (-11).
NANTES PRAYING
Nantes must win and pray for two losses from their rivals to save their place in the top flight. The first problem is that Saturday's opponents Metz may need a draw to secure the same goal.
Last weekend Nantes fans invaded the pitch and were involved in brawls with stewards after their team lost 1-0 at Sochaux. Supporters have launched a petition on the internet demanding Le Dizet and Gripond leave.
Le Dizet and his squad have left their usual training camp and gone to the Atlantic resort of Sables d'Olonne, about 100 kilometres south of the city, to prepare.
"There is a lot of pressure in Nantes, even if we know that most of our fans want to help us out rather than make trouble," said midfielder Emerse Fae.
Five years ago, Nantes were also in critical situation when Marama Vahirua saved them in the last game at Le Havre, bizarrely just one year before scoring the decisive goal to claim the championship.
"I hope history can repeat itself," said Le Dizet. "I'm dreaming of a happy-end scenario.
Meanwhile, in-form Corsican side Bastia travel to League Cup winners Strasbourg with every hope of securing the three points they need to guarantee safety. They will also be safe if Nantes do not win and if Caen lose.
Caen will also try to get an away win at relegated Istres. The Normandy side, who sacked coach Patrick Remy only two weeks ago, looked doomed just a fortnight ago but grabbed shock away wins in Marseille and Toulouse and are now in position to pull off a miracle.
BORDEAUX NEED A POINT
The second Corsican side in the mix, Ajaccio, is also in the throes of an amazing comeback.
Coach Roland Courbis has led them to wins over Auxerre, Marseille and Monaco in the last few weeks. Another success against Sochaux will crown their efforts.
Girondins Bordeaux are also wrapped up in the dogfight.
After a promising start to the season, the five-time champions have lost their way, unable to fully exploit the potential of the talented Camel Meriem and Marouane Chamakh.
With only three points in hand over fellow legends Nantes, Bordeaux need a home draw against UEFA Cup hopefuls Marseille, who have not won in Bordeaux for more than 25 years.
Such an outcome would give them the French record for drawn games in a season: an incredible 20 stalemates in 38 games - a glimmer of the coldest comfort for Bordeaux supporters.
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