Ligue 1: Clermont, Lorient, Nantes... the fight to maintain itself is in full swing

There are five of them. Five clubs still affected by relegation. Four days before the end of the championship, Le Figaro takes stock of the fight for maintenance.

Clermont Foot 63 is in (very) bad shape. Red lantern of Ligue 1 with only 22 points gleaned in 30 matches, the Auvergne team is seven points behind the first non-relegation team, FC Metz...and six behind Le Havre, which currently occupies the play-off position. Mathematically, the Rouge et Bleu can still save themselves since there are twelve points left to distribute. But in reality, it is extremely difficult. On the one hand, Pascal Gastien's men are in a very bad dynamic with no victory in their last four matches (two losses and two draws). On the other hand, their schedule is not the simplest with receptions at Stade de Reims and Olympique Lyonnais and trips to the pitches of AS Monaco and FC Lorient - a direct competitor for maintenance - during the last day.

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Despite everything, the people of Clermont want to believe in a small feat at the end of the season. “It’s complicated to leave after something like this. But it’s a reflection of our season. We now need to win two or three matches to hope to get out of this. We are going to fight, explained midfielder Johan Gastien after the defeat against RC Lens (1-0) last Saturday. I still believe in it and so do the guys, even though we know it will be difficult. We have no choice against Reims on Sunday at home.” Can they offer themselves a little hope this Sunday afternoon (3 p.m.)?

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Ahead of Clermont Foot 63, there are three - in a pinch - who are still particularly affected by relegation: FC Lorient (17th, 26 points), Le Havre (16th, 28 points) and FC Metz (15th, 29 points). The Merlus, who have just suffered a heavy defeat at home against Paris Saint-Germain (1-4) this Wednesday evening, will have a lot to do to save themselves... especially since their schedule looks complicated ( Toulouse, Lens, Marseille and Clermont). But an exploit remains possible. “I feel the entire group and staff are convinced, like the rest of the club, that it is possible. We have the firm conviction that we will do it, declared Breton President Loïc Fery. There are sort of four finals and the players have their destiny and that of the club in their hands. Lorient has already done it to topple mountains. I see a group that believes in it.”

Le Havre AC, too, has reason to worry. The Normans lost the match that (probably) should not have been lost last weekend, against FC Metz (0-1). And with a particularly arduous schedule - trips to the pitches of Paris Saint-Germain and OGC Nice and receptions of RC Strasbourg Alsace and Olympique de Marseille - the situation is far from optimal. However, hope is not (yet?) dead. “When we can’t cling to confidence, we cling to hope. And there is hope (...) in terms of points, we are not far from holding on,” said Le Havre coach Luka Elsner.

FC Metz is undoubtedly, among the three clubs, the one in the least uncomfortable situation. First of all because he left the relegation zone. But also because it remains on two victories in two matches, against RC Lens (2-1) and Le Havre (0-1). The Garnets must, however, still be vigilant. Indeed, with a very difficult schedule on paper (Lille, Rennes, Strasbourg, Paris), they could well finish in the last three places in the ranking.

It's not done yet. Fourteenth in the standings, three points ahead of the play-off, FC Nantes is not yet saved. In the event of a good final sprint from Le Havre - or even FC Lorient -, the Canaries could well end the season in 16th place, synonymous with the play-offs. Exactly, like in 2020-2021, when they held on by dismissing Toulouse FC... with Antoine Kombouaré already on the bench.

To avoid being frightened in the coming weeks, the Nantais - who will face Stade Brestois, LOSC and AS Monaco during the last three days - must at all costs take points on the pitch of Montpellier Hérault SC, this Friday evening (9 p.m.), opening the 31st day of Ligue 1. “I arrived here on a mission for eight matches and therefore, eight finals. Tomorrow (this Friday), there is a new one. After tomorrow's match, there will still be three finals, assured the Nantes coach. We are going to have arguments to pose problems for this Montpellier HSC team.”