Ligue 1 recap: Good old PSG, late drama and 99th-minute penalty that changed so many things

Even those who are not fans of Ligue 1 probably enjoyed this season in France. Yes, Paris Saint-Germain once again proved to be merciless rulers of French football, but the race for European competitions and relegation battle brought many turnarounds, and the situation was full of tension until the final seconds.

Who fell short? Who deserved more? Who are the winners, and who are the losers of the season in France? Which players and managers stepped up, and which disappointed? All the answers are below.

TITLE RACE

Similarly to several previous seasons, the title race in Ligue 1 brought little excitement, all thanks to Paris Saint-Germain's immense power. However, unlike past campaigns, the Saints managed to make a notable result in the Champions League as well, where they'll play the grand final against Inter Milan on May 31 in Munich.

At first, Olympique Marseille and Monaco finally seemed ready to challenge the Parisians for the top of French football, but that impression was short-winded. Both Roberto De Zerbi and Adolf Hutter's crews held out for about ten rounds, after which PSG's advantage only grew. In the end, the team from the capital ended with a 19-point edge over the vice-champions Marseille.

BATTLE FOR EUROPEAN SPOTS

Given that Luis Enrique's men mercilessly took the top of the table, the rest of the teams could turn to fighting for European competitions. Excluding the Saints and their first followers, Marseille and Monaco, six teams were constantly close to Europe: Lille, Nice, Lyon, Strasbourg, Lens, and Brest.

It is difficult to count the number of times they leapfrogged each other, as the competition was fierce and lasted until the final minutes of the final round.

Even though Lille and Brest were in - in prospect - the same situation, their finishes were completely different. On the one hand, Les Dogues made a historic result in the Champions League, directly reaching the Round of 16 after finishing the league phase in the seventh place as the best-placed French representative.

However, that didn't affect Lille's domestic results much, as they were in combat for the UCL spot until the last round. Ultimately, they were leapfrogged by Nice, which took the place in the qualifiers, while Lille will have to settle for the Europa League.

Speaking of Nice, their UEL campaign was absolutely abysmal, as they ended in the penultimate 35th spot, just above the Azerbaijani Qarabag, with only three points and without a single win.

Curious case of Nice or what is the lead, again?

However, they used the early end of their European season to focus on Ligue 1, and that brought them the position #4.

Unlike Lille, Brest paid the toll of competing in the UCL for the first time. Their maiden UCL participation was decent, given that they reached the play-off stage, where PSG expectedly demolished them.

Yet, they'll have to take a break from Europe in the next season after finishing only ninth. Until February and early March, Brest were lurking European spots, but later on, they "slackened," which cost them dearly.

Shocked Liam Rosenior and Strasbourg players, following the defeat that left them out of Europe (©AFP)

Nevertheless, the absolutely biggest battle for Europe on the "French front" was fought between Lyon and Strasbourg.

Olympique opened the season terribly, being closer to the relegation zone than the top of the table after five rounds. Still, several quality additions did their part, and Lyon quickly caught up the "European company."

As for Strasbourg, no one expected them to end this high, though the fact that they are Chelsea's affiliate club must not be forgotten. With numerous young and talented Blues loanees and the motivated English manager Liam Rosenior, they worked miracles.

Still, they managed to ruin everything they had previously done in the last two rounds when they lost to two relegation-strugglers, Angers and Le Havre. The defeat to the latter was particularly devastating, as Strasbourg gambled away a 2-0 lead and lost 3-2, conceding from a 99th-minute penalty.

Paulo Fonseca's Lyon knew how to exploit their rivals' failure, taking their place in the UEFA Conference League by beating Angers 2-0 in the final round - and Alexandre Lacazette's farewell game - thus healing to some extent the UEL wounds after being eliminated in the quarter-finals following Man United's unbelievable comeback.

RELEGATION FIGHT

Even though they were officially relegated in the last week of April, Montpellier had booked the Ligue 2 ticket much earlier. The team had serious financial troubles, was forced to sell their arguably best player, Musa Al-Taamari, to their direct rivals, Rennes, changed three managers (Michel Der Zakarian, Jean-Louis Gasset, and Zoumana Camara) throughout the season, and noted one of the worst point tallies in the French top tier's history, ending with only 16 points and only one point won in the final 15 rounds.

Montpellier players in despair (©AFP)

One of the French giants - despite their current status - Saint-Etienne returned to the top flight after two seasons with one primary goal - surviving. The goal they failed to fulfil.

Les Verts opened the season pretty well, but as time passed, they had more and more troubles, and ultimately were three points short of securing the relegation play-off.

Unlike some previous campaigns, Toulouse and Auxerre were almost nowhere near relegation. On the other hand, Angers barely survived, while Nantes and Rennes probably shocked their fans with a pretty poor campaign in which they "fought for their lives" instead of Europe.

Yet, when someone, in a few years, mentions the 2024/2025 Ligue 1 season and the relegation battle, the first two teams that will come to mind are Le Havre and Reims.

Given that Montpellier and Saint-Etienne took places that led straight to Ligue 2 (conceding 156 goals combined?!), the one place remaining was the one that secured the relegation play-off.

Until the final minutes of the last round, Le Havre were in that spot. The only way they could be saved was to beat Strasbourg - which were fighting for Europe - and wait for Reims' defeat against Lille.

As mentioned before, Strasbourg were 2-0 up, only to lose 3-2 thanks to Abdoulaye Toure's 99th-minute spot-kick. That goal brought Le Havre a victory, but also survival in the French elite. Reims lost to Lille 2-1, Le Havre leapfrogged them, and now the red and whites must prepare for a decisive play-off clash against Metz.

Yet, it has to be said that Reims lost their final three games of the season - including the one against Saint-Etienne at home - so the only ones they can blame are themselves.

BIGGEST WINNERS

Olympique Lyon

When you're out of the European zone until the last minute of the entire season, and after you end up "stealing" that spot, you definitely have to be pronounced one of the biggest winners.

The "uncanny" UEL elimination by the Red Devils somewhat ruins the impression, but all that will be quickly forgotten at Groupama Stadium.

Le Havre

The same that goes for Lyon, goes for Le Havre. Only in Le Club Doyen's case, it refers to the relegation fight. The fact that they were "saved by the bell," although they spent most of the season in the "red zone" is enough for them to make the winners' list.

Ousmane Dembele

Until the last season - a spoiled brat of European football. Immensely talented but seriously immature.

As deserved as it gets: Dembele named Ligue 1's Player of the Year

Since the beginning of this season - "Terminator," who's been destroying opponents both in France and Europe. He was the first among equals in Enrique's army that conquered Ligue 1 - they play the Coupe de France final against Reims next Saturday (22.00) - and reached the UCL final.

In the end, he's deservedly one of the leading candidates for the Ballon d'Or, and who could've foreseen that only a year ago? This was Ousmane Dembele's season.

Mason Greenwood

After so many personal problems, it's nice to see this man back on track. Many were against his arrival in Marseille - including the city's mayor - but Roberto De Zerbi was persistent in his decision to bring the Englishman, and the forward thanked him for that belief with 21 goals - joint top-scorer spot with Dembele - and five assists.

Whether he stays at Stade Velodrome or not, Greenwood should forever be thankful to Marseille and De Zerbi for reviving his career when no other renowned European club wanted him.

Jonathan David

In his last season with Lille, he once again reached a fantastic goal-scoring tally, netting 16 times in Ligue 1 and seven in the Champions League. Hence, he proved himself in the elite as well, so it's no wonder numerous clubs will be "at war" to sign him.

David is free - 'Goliaths' prepare for an auction

Unfortunately for Les Dogues, the Canadian leaves as a free agent, but he definitely continued making giant steps forward this season and deserved his place among the winners.

Arnaud Kalimuendo

Rennes may have been subpar in this campaign, but the 23-year-old striker wasn't the reason. He improved his last season's numbers by three goals, bagging 18 Ligue 1 goals, which brought him third place among the top scorers.

He was one of the most deserving of Rennes' survival, and it wouldn't be surprising if, as of August, we saw him on a much stronger team.

Angers

In the end, a team to which the bottom of the table had been predicted prior to the season and which, despite everything, managed to survive has to be on this list. With over 24% chances to hit the bottom, Angers were one of the most probable travellers to Ligue 2, but the crew from western France led by Alexandre Dujeux proved that predictions can often be thrown out the window.

BIGGEST LOSERS

Strasbourg

The way Rosenior's lads lost the place that led to Europe is probably as painful as it gets. Still, they had everything in their hands but became unnecessarily complacent and allowed Le Havre to make an extraordinary comeback.

In addition, Strasbourg suffered a defeat in the penultimate round as well, and against another relegation-strugglers, Angers. Considering that, what happened is solely their fault.

Reims

On the one hand, they have to be among the losers, as Le Havre dropped them into the volcano called the relegation play-off in the dying minutes. Once Strasbourg had a 2-0 lead over their rivals, Samba Diawara and his men probably started celebrating too early.

Yet, apart from facing Reims in two decisive clashes regarding their top-tier ambitions, Reims will play in the Coupe de France grand final for the first time since 1959! Although PSG are the rival that won't give them much chance, they must be given credit for what they achieved.

And if they manage to survive and stay in Ligue 1, this season will even become successful.

Montpellier

Problems are problems - financial or other ones - and all teams have them at some point. However, what the 2012 champions of France allowed themselves this season is genuinely sad.

As if they fought hard to finish at the bottom of the table, Montpellier had no chance to survive. Changing three managers during the seasons was only their desperate move that brought nothing good.

Perhaps the problem is not on the pitch or next to it but in the offices above. Either way, the club that conquered France 13 years ago with players like Olivier Giroud, Souleymane Camara, and Remy Cabella will next season play second-tier football after 16 years in the elite.

Lens

Ahead of the 2024/2025 season, they were predicted to finish fourth, just behind PSG, Monaco, and Lille. Moreover, they were given great odds of finishing in the top six and qualifying for one of the UEFA competitions.

The epilogue: Lens finished only eighth, despite having the third-best record on the road in the league after the Parisians and Marseille. Moreover, only the bottom six teams scored fewer goals than Lens (42). All in all, the popular Blood and Gold seriously fell short this season.

Rennes

Similar things can be said about Rennes. The team that was expected to be safely in the middle of the table and perhaps snatch an opportunity to mix things up in the race for Europe ended up desperately fighting to keep its head above water.

And had it not been for the fantastic Kalimuendo and the gaffer Habib Beye, who managed to fix Jorge Sampaoli's blunders (the Argentinian left the club on the verge of the relegation zone when he was sacked in January), Rennes would have been preparing for the second-flight football now.

Brest

Playing in the Champions League for the first time took its toll, as Brest finished the season in ninth place. Even though an inevitable fall due to the club's inexperience regarding playing three competitions was expected, Brest were still seen in Europe next season as well, especially after they progressed through the UCL league phase.

Still, they'll have to try again next season, though the impression is that their place is in Europe.

Paulo Fonseca

Although the only individual among the clubs on the losers' list, Lyon head coach had to be there. As if he wasn't an experienced manager, Fonseca allowed himself to lose his head during the clash against Brest and enter a serious confrontation with the referee Benoit Millot.

Lyon's Fonseca faces a 9-month ban for breaking into referee's intimate zone

For that shameful behaviour, the Portuguese got a severe punishment - a nine-month ban!

That means that Fonseca won't be able to lead his team until November 30! Lyon haven't given up on him, but what happened is a serious infamy in the 52-year-old's career and resume.

HONORARY MENTION

Alexandre Lacazette and Steve Mandanda

The duo with 852 games in Ligue 1 has possibly called it a day when it comes to French football.

The legendary Lyon captain, who spent ten years with Olympique, making 391 appearances and scoring 201 goals, was given a proper farewell at the last-round clash against Angers. And he said goodbye to the crowd in an adequate way as well, netting a brace in a 2-0 triumph.

Although it's still vague where the 33-year-old will continue his career, it's hard to believe that - after such a marvellous love story between him and Les Gones - he'll join any other Ligue 1 side.

Can one wear opposite team's captain armband? Yes, when he's an utmost icon

At the same time, Steve Mandanda probably noted the last seconds in the French top flight in Rennes' jersey, although the packed Stade Velodrome, his home for 13 years, applauded him.

After 613 games with Marseille, 102 with Rennes, and 72 with Le Havre, the 40-year-old custodian will most likely call it a day and hang up his boots.

Either way, Ligue 1 is lucky to have had such legends.

In the end, French football provided us with another exciting season, and we can only hope for more in the season to come. In the meantime, the clubs will reinforce, change managers, fight for players in the market...

Some will dream about survival, some about Europe, and some about dethroning Paris Saint-Germain. Will any of those dreams come true? We'll slowly but surely start finding out as of mid-August when another (88th) edition of Ligue 1 begins.