Nantes produced one of the best performances of the season to beat Auxerre 2-1 but it was not enough to save them from relegation to Ligue 2.
After losing to fellow strugglers Sochaux last weekend, Nantes were all but guaranteed to go down but it did not stop them putting in a rousing performance for the home fans, with goals from Ivan Klasnic and Mamadou Bagayoko clinching the points.
Jeremy Berthod equalised for Auxerre just after half-time but it proved irrelevant.
Klasnic's goal in the 12th minute was the first chance of the game. Aurelien Capoue burst down the left wing and crossed for the striker to beat Olivier Sorin with a left-footed shot from close range.
Auxerre could have levelled when Dennis Oliech played in Dariusz Dudka, whose shot came back off a post in the 17th minute.
Nantes could have doubled their lead in the 25th minute when Bagayoko headed over another cross from Capoue, and Auxerre's Cedric Hangbart almost scored an own goal on the half-hour mark when he attempted to head clear from a free-kick into the box.
Auxerre levelled two minutes after the re-start when Oliech dribbled into the penalty area and set up Berthod, whose fierce shot flew past Guy Rolland Ndy Assembe.
The scores did not stay level for long though as six minutes later Bagayoko latched onto a pass from Guirane N'Daw and fired a low shot which went in off the inside of the far post.
Lynel Darcy Kitambala could have equalised for the visitors late on but shot wide from the edge of the box.
