The race to enter Ligue 1

[gaijin]

http://www.l-equipe.fr/Football/CLA_D2.html

There still 6 games left and anything can happen, so even those in 7th and 8th could possibly snatch the 3rd place. May take a lot for that happen mind you. Bastia would be in the stronger position to open up a nice 4 points gap with their game in hand over Lorient in 4th. After that I think Caen and Dijon and possibly even Le Havre (in extreme circumstances) are the only others likely to be able to break down that fairly hefty lead.

So who are the 3 who will go up?

1. Sedan 60 pts (32)
2. Valenciennes 59 pts (32)
3. Bastia 56 pts (31)
4. Lorient 55 pts (32)
5. Caen 51 pts (32)
6. Dijon 47 pts (32)

I think Sedan will seal the title, and I hope that Lorient and Valenciennes will snatch the other two spots. No Bastia please!

[SportBoy333]

I must admit that I do not care about any of these teams so I really have no preference as to who I want to see promoted. If I had to pick one by default I guess I'd choose Caen because they seem to have more supporters than the other 5 teams in contention. I guess I'm one of the few French fans who doesnt mind Bastia.

[Wingdings]

I don't really know much about the 2nd division, but I've voted anyway!

[gaijin]

Well Grenoble thrashed Bastia 5-1 yesterday...

Meaning they miss out on increasing their gap at the top to 4 points.

Its back on for Lorient! :)

Next week;

Chateauroux v Sedan
Basta v Dijon
Montpellier v Caen
Gueugon v Lorient
Valenciennes v Guingamp

[blackjack]

I will be so frustrated if when Ajaccio finally go down Bastia come back up...

La Corse en Ligue Deux!!!

[gaijin]

Some interesting results last night;

Bastia 0-2 Dijon

Chateauroux 0-1 Sedan

Gueugnon 0-1 Lorient

Montpellier 1-3 Caen

1. Sedan 63 pts (33)
2. Valenciennes 59 pts (32)
3. Lorient 58 pts (33)
4. Bastia 56 pts (33)
5. Caen 54 pts (32)
6. Dijon 50 pts (32)

Sedan continue to win whilst Lorient inflicts Gueugnon's first home defeat of the season and leapfrog Bastia after they lost 1-0 at home to Dijon. Caen keep up the pace with a convicning 3-1 on the south coast against Montpellier.

Valenciennes play on Monday. :)

[gaijin]

Well Valenciennes did win on Monday by 2 goals to nil against Guingamp

This weekend however, Bastia wretched form continues as they lose away to Gueugnon, whilst Sedan continue to lead the way despite a 1-1 draw with lowly Laval at home. Valenciennes now move into in 1st place with a 2-1 win over bottom placed Sete, while Caen thrash their nearest rivals Le Havre to go within a point of the promotion places. Lorient have an opportunity to open up a 4 point gap between themselves and Caen, when they face Brest at home on Monday.

Monday:
Valenciennes 2-0 Guingamp

Friday:
Sedan 1-1 Laval
Sete 1-2 Valenciennes
Gueugnon 2-0 Bastia
Dijon 2-1 Chatearoux
Caen 4-1 Le Havre

1. Valenciennes 65 pts (34)
2. Sedan 64 pts (34)
3. Lorient 58 pts (33)
--------------------------------
4. Caen 57 pts (34)
5. Bastia 56 pts (34)
6. Dijon 53 pts (34)

[gaijin]

Oh yeah, I think Lorient played last night and....

*checks paper*

They won 5-0 against Brest.

Allez le tango. :cool:

1. Valenciennes 65 pts (34)
2. Sedan 64 pts (34)
3. Lorient 61 pts (34)
--------------------------------
4. Caen 57 pts (34)
5. Bastia 56 pts (34)
6. Dijon 53 pts (34)

They now have a 4 point gap between themselves and Caen with 4 games left to play.

[danny_mac3]

Caen with 60 points now after the debacle from the "fans" at Bastia. Glad to see all the players made it off the pitch okay though.

Allez Stade Malherbe!

[gaijin]

Indeed, yet more reasons to not want Bastia in Ligue 1. Despite the match being stopped due to crowd violence at 2-0. I am almost certain that the result will stand and Caen will claim the 3 points. Bastia may even be dedcuted more points on further review by the football league.

Weekend results;

Brest 0-4 Dijon
Creteil 1-1 Lorient.
Bastia 0-3 Caen *
Valenciennes 1-0 Istres

* default result.

1. Valenciennes 68 pts (35)
2. Sedan 64 pts (34)
3. Lorient 62 pts (35)
--------------------------------
4. Caen 60 pts (35)
5. Dijon 56 pts (35)
6. Bastia 56 pts (35)

Dropped points for Lorient there. Bastia's form has truely hit the fan. Caen are now looking good to snatch a promotion spot. Dijon will need some results to go their way soon.

Sedan play at Amiens tomorrow.

Next week, the top two meet for a probable title clash with Valenciennes knowing a win against Sedan could see them crowned champions depending on Monday's result.

Caen host Chateauroux, whilst Dijon play 7th placed Creteil. Bastia host Le Havre (possibly behind closed doors or at a neutral venue.) And Lorient play Amiens.

[gaijin]

Well Sedan drew their game against Amiens, meaning they increase only a 3 point gap over Lorient going into the final game. This meant that Valenciennes could secure their place in Ligue 1 with a win over Sedan and did just that with a crushing 3-0 at the Stade Louis Dugauguez. This means the little club from Northern France has achieved two promotions in succession. Looking foward to a Lille v Valenciennes derby next season. :cool:

Caen in 4th keep jump into the promotion places above Lorient who play on Monday, whilst Bastia slim hopes of promotion has all but ended with a 1-1 draw against Le Havre. Dijon in 5th drew 1-1 also with 7th place Creteil.

Results:

Caen 2-1 Chateauroux
Dijon 1-1 Creteil
Bastia 1-1 Le Havre
Sedan 0-3 Valenciennes

1. Valenciennes 71 pts (36)
2. Sedan 65 pts (36)
3. Caen 63 pts (36)
--------------------------------
4. Lorient 62 pts (35)
5. Dijon 57 pts (36)
6. Bastia 57 pts (36)

Both Dijon and Bastia are probably out of it. The remaining two spots will be occupied by either Sedan, Caen or Lorient. Lorient has a game in hand and could jump back into the top 3 if they beat Amiens at home on Monday.

Remaining fixtures;

Sedan:
Reims (a)
Guingamp (h)

Caen:
Brest (a)
Creteil (h)

Lorient:
Amiens (h)
Valenciennes (a)
Reims (h)

[Boom]

Bastia 0-3 Caen *

* default result.

That's not correct. The French Ligue gave lost match to Bastia with the result whent the match was interrupted.
Unfortunatelly for Caen, the result is 2-0 and not 3-0 as it should be. The goal difference will probably be an important parameter for the final rush. So bad the Ligue (as usual) doesn't choose the "default result" 'cause Caen was dominating Bastia in the end of this match and could score one or two more goals.

[Allez Lyonnais]

Caen are the kind of team that I want in L1. Great, great atmosphere.

[gaijin]

Valenciennes will be straight back down imo.

Lorient, Sedan and Caen should have the quality to stay in Ligue 1 or at leats fight hard enough to stay in it...

[sl7vk]

I think L2 is better then most people think. All 3 teams are going to stay up from last year, and I think the same could happen next. Caen is a quality club, I'm rooting for them.

[guignol]

I will be so frustrated if when Ajaccio finally go down Bastia come back up... La Corse en Ligue Deux!!!my thoughts exactly... a corsican derby is just what L2 needs! mind you ACA's stadium isn't quite up to L2 standards...

[gaijin]

Lorient lost ground last night with a 1-1 home draw against Amiens.

Despite that, they jump above Caen on goal difference.

1. Valenciennes 71 pts (36) [+24]
2. Sedan 65 pts (36) [+15]
3. Lorient 63 pts (36) [+22]
--------------------------------
4. Caen 63 pts (36) [+20]
5. Dijon 57 pts (36) [+14]
6. Bastia 57 pts (36) [+10]

[RandyNA74]

It sucked to see Caen go down last year. I want to see them come back up.

[sl7vk]

my thoughts exactly... a corsican derby is just what L2 needs! mind you ACA's stadium isn't quite up to L2 standards...

LOL. You don't like that sand hill the "supporters" get to sit on?

Allez Caen, classy side should be in L1.

[guignol]

LOL. You don't like that sand hill the "supporters" get to sit on? Allez Caen, classy side should be in L1.what hypocrisy that they make lyon-duchère play in gerland and then let the françois-coty shenanigans go on and on... :mad:

mind you caen needs to do something about their pitch. with any huevos the L1 would have made them play elsewhere some weeks last year. the rhone-alpes district has refused to homologate pitches like that for division d'honneur! :mad: