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Match Reports

Lorient Crowned Ligue 2 BKT Champions, Martigues Relegated, Guingamp into Promotion Play-offs

Lorient capped off a dream season by clinching the Ligue 2 title in style, thrashing Martigues 5-1 at Le Moustoir on the final day. Guingamp secured the last play-off spot, while Martigues dropped straight back to the Championnat National.
George Boxall
Published on 05/11/2025 at 08:30
2-minute read
Lorient seal the Ligue 2 BKT title on the final day as Guingamp secure the playoffs and Martigues are relegated back to the Championnat National.

It was a festival of football in Brittany. Already promoted to Ligue 1 McDonald's with two games to spare, Lorient added a second Ligue 2 BKT title to their history books—five years after their previous triumph in 2020. Saturday’s emphatic victory over Martigues was spearheaded by the league’s top scorer, Eli Junior Kroupi, who bagged his 22nd goal of the season just before half-time (45+1), reacting quickest after a double woodwork effort from Igor Silva.

Martigues briefly gave themselves hope with a leveller from Karim Tlili (58’), but it was short-lived. Lorient responded ruthlessly: Sambou Soumano struck twice (63’, 90+4), Kroupi added his second (65’), and substitute Jean-Victor Makengo capped the night with a stylish finish (87’). It marks the second straight season that a recently relegated Ligue 1 McDonald's side has immediately bounced back as champions, following Auxerre in 2024.

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Martigues Down, Guingamp Dreaming

At the other end of the table, Martigues’ fate was sealed by the defeat. Back in Ligue 2 BKT for just one season after a historic promotion a year ago, they now return to the third tier. Their slim hopes of a play-off lifeline were dashed, with Clermont securing that final 16th-placed spot thanks to a 1-1 draw away at Rodez. Famara Diedhiou had put Clermont ahead early on (9’), but the draw was enough to give them a shot at staying up via the relegation play-off. They'll face either Le Mans or Boulogne-sur-Mer, depending on the outcome of the final day in the National next week.

Meanwhile, Guingamp clinched 5th place and the final play-off berth thanks to a 3-1 win at Pau. Goals from Rayan Ghrieb (40’), Hugo Picard (56’), and Amadou Sagna (81’) secured the vital three points. They’ll now meet Dunkerque—who finished 4th and drew 1-1 with Red Star—on Wednesday, May 14. The winner will face Metz on May 17 for a place in Ligue 1 McDonald's.

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No Title, but Celebration for Paris FC

Paris FC, despite a convincing 2-0 win over Ajaccio, fell short of the title. With Jürgen Klopp and Antoine Arnault watching from the stands at Stade Charléty, Jean-Philippe Krasso scored twice (47’, 66’) to cap off a positive campaign. Although the capital club will not lift a trophy this year, fans flooded the pitch at full-time, celebrating promotion and the promise of a new chapter in Ligue 1 McDonald's next season. 

READ MORE: 

>>Paris FC promoted, Metz finish third, Red Star secure safety
>>Les Voisins: Paris FC and Paris Saint-Germain reunited after 53 years

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