NANTES CLINCH LE CHAMPIONNAT
Marama Vahirua's 9th minute strike was enough to seal the points, guaranteeing that The Canaries will now be competing with Europe's finest in the Champions League next season.
They are now within two victories of their opponents' record of 10 championship wins and, with it's youthful playing staff, the Loire Atlantique club appear to be set for a period of domination over the coming seasons.
Robert Budzynski has had a hand in all eight championship winning sides as either a player or sporting director, and he was quick to round on those who had claimed that Nantes were too inexperienced to achieve the league title.
"People regard this as an immature team but it has won three trophies in three years - and you can't argue with that," he declared. "It was a young squad and after a disappointing season last season they started well and grew in stature as the season went on."
Lyon continue to hold second place after an emphatic 5-0 thumping of already relegated Strasbourg. Sonny Anderson and Patrick Muller gave Olympique a 2-0 half-time lead before goals from Sidney Govou, Jean-Marc Chanelet and Steve Marlet turned the victory into a rout.
Ibrahim Bakayoko scored twice to give Olympique Marseilles a 2-1 victory over Bastia. Frederic Nee had equalised the former Everton man's 35th minute opener, but l'OM eventually ran out winners, also relegating Toulouse in the process.
The southern club's slim chances of survival peetered out in spite of a 2-1 victory over Metz. Dianbobo Balde cancelled out Gerald Baticle's 28th minute strike, before Edwin Congo popped up to secure the points for Toulouse.
Severino Lucas's goal was all that separated Rennes and Auxerre, while Bordeaux and Sedan cancelled out each other's efforts in a 2-2 draw.
Alain Roche put Girondins into the lead after 38 minutes, only to see Moussa N'Diaye equalise just before half-time. Pedro Pauleta restored the advantage with a 69th minute penalty, but that was rendered ineffective by Luis Satorra's strike just two minutes later.
A late Samuel Boutal effort secured a point for Troyes after Romain Ferrer had given Guingamp the lead on the stroke of half-time.
And it was another former Everton man who provided the drama in another exciting 2-2 draw in Paris. PSG twice came from behind against Lille to earn a share of the spoils, with Mickael Madar grabbing a late equaliser.
Bruno Cheyrou had put the visitors in front, before Mikel Arteta equalised ten minutes into the second-half. Cheyrou then doubled his tally, but Madar's strike with just two minutes remaining ensured that honours were even.
In the days other game, Monaco played out a goalless draw with Lens.
