Caen hold Metz as Lorient & Paris FC lead the way

Five games to go until the palpitating conclusion of Ligue 2 BKT, and there's still everything to play for in the race for promotion and the battle to stay in the division. This weekend's action has seen the top two continue their respective winning runs, whilst Metz in third place were held by a battling Caen side in Normandy. Dunkerque cured their Coupe de France hangover to get back to winning ways during Monday night's action against Guingamp.

Meanwhile at the bottom of the league Rodez got back to winning ways to project them up to mid-table, whilst it remained tight at the bottom as Martigues and Clermont battled it out to avoid direct relegation. There are three teams: Red Star, Amiens, and Troyes who currently sit on 34 points as we enter the last five games of the season.

Five-star Lorient dismantle Pau 

But at the top of the table it's all rosy for FC Lorient, who clinched their third straight victory in style as Les Merlus pumped Pau 5-0 at home during Saturday's action. Lorient's star man Eli Junior Kroupi was once again on target from the penalty spot to open the scoring (11') before completing his brace in the second half when he nipped in front of the Pau defence and poked home (55'). The two Juliens of Loirent added the third and the fourth, Laporte on the 75th minute before Ponceau on the 80th. Aiyegun Tosin then added the killer fifth in added time to complete the five-star performance. Les Merlus now sit at the top of the league, three points ahead of Paris FC with five games to go.

Paris FC plunge Clermont into danger

The Ligue 2 BKT Dauphins are right on the coattails of the league leaders after winning 2-0 over a Clermont side that could be facing the real prospect of a double relegation by the end of the season. Mathieu Cafaro opened the scoring for Les Parisiens within ten minutes (8') before Moustapha Mbow doubled the lead in the second half. Damien Da Silva was shown a straight red card after the hour mark. In the aftermath,  Laurent Batlles and Clermont have parted ways, with Sébastien Mazeyrat coming in for the final five games of the season.

Metz falter, Red Star & Troyes play out thrilling draw

Perhaps further good news for Paris FC fans: Metz were held 2-2 at Stade Michel Ornano by Michel De Zakarian's Caen side. Kevin Van Den Kerkhof opened the scoring (42') before Samuel Grandsir (47') equalised for the relegation-threatened hosts. Metz marksman Cheikh Sabaly was on target just past the hour-mark (61') before Noé Lebreton snatched an important equaliser.

Meanwhile, the battle at the bottom heated up this weekend. As both Troyes and Red Star were hoping to get themselves away from danger. Both sat on 34 points, it was a huge opportunity to boost their aspirations of staying up in the league. ESTAC opened the scoring when Cyriaque Kalou Bi Irié tapped in at the back post (12').

It took around ten minutes for the Paris suburban side to get back into the game, when Hianga'a Mbock headed Ryad Hachem's corner into the back of the net (28'). The away side went ahead via Merwan Ifnaoui's calm finish in front of goal (34') before a moment of brilliance saw Troyes get back on level terms. Youssouf M'Changama stepped up to slam a long-distance freekick from around 40 yards into the back of the net, surely one of the goals of the season (40').

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>>Eli Junior Kroupi at the double to keep Lorient top