A Look at the Ligue 1 Relegation Dogfight | OneFootball

In France, Ligue 1’s current relegation dogfight makes for some compelling and emotionally charged soccer.

The Ligue 1 Bottom (as of May, 1 2025) Source: Wikipedia

Montpellier: Freefalling at the Worst Time

We already known that Montpellier has been relegated. Their Ligue 1 title in 2012 feels like a distant memory now. This season was a cascade of issues: injuries to key players; an underperforming midfield; a painfully leaky defense; unsuccessful coaching changes. That left the squad disjointed, demoralized, and now downward.

Saint-Étienne: A Sleeping Giant’s Nightmare

Saint-Étienne, one of France’s most storied clubs, is on the brink. Having narrowly avoided the drop last season, they now sit one spot from safety in 17th. Their current form suggests a team weighed down by pressure. Defensive disorganization, poor recruitment, and a lack of attacking clarity have all contributed to their downfall. For a club of their size and history, relegation would be devastating which both financially and in terms of identity.

Le Havre: A Nervous Edge

Tied on 27 points with Saint-Étienne but ahead on goal difference, Le Havre currently holds the crucial 16th spot. That means they would enter a relegation play-off rather than suffer direct relegation. But their position is precarious. Despite a disciplined setup and an overachieving first half of the season, recent results have dried up. They lack a cutting edge in attack and haven’t shown enough character in tight matches.

Angers

One of two teams just above the drop zone, a stumble could give Le Havre or Saint-Étienne an opportunity to leapfrog them into safety. The upcoming match against Nantes is HUGE and a must-win, especially considering the difficulty of their last two fixtures.

Nantes

One of two teams just above the drop zone, a stumble could give Le Havre or Saint-Étienne an opportunity to leapfrog them into safety. They have a MUCH easier schedule on paper than Angers, including hosting them in this weekend’s critical match. They then end the season against already relegated Montpellier, which should be a win.

The urgency

In Ligue 1’s relegation format, the bottom two clubs (17th and 18th) are automatically relegated, while the 16th-placed team enters a relegation playoff against a Ligue 2 side. That structure adds even more pressure. The playoff could be a lifeline for Le Havre or Saint-Étienne, but only if they can hold off the collapse until then.

These next three weeks will decide not just the fate of clubs, but the futures of entire communities, fanbases, and careers. The beauty and cruelty of soccer is that only results matter now.