Ligue 2 BKT: Who are the Ligue 1 promotion candidates?

There were scenes of delight at Stade Geoffrey Guichard on Saturday evening, as Troyes secured their return to Ligue 1 McDonald's following a three-season absence from the French top tier. The Champagne side secured their seventh promotion to Ligue 1, a joint record with FC Metz. Yet, there still remains the hotly contested second spot in Ligue 2, which sees six viable teams which could make the move to the Ligue 1 either through automatic promotion or the play-offs.

With two matches to go, there are six points up for grabs between Le Mans, Saint-Étienne, Red Star and Reims, which could see a promotion race decided on the final match of the season. Let's take a look at the sides which will be vying for a spot in the elite next.

Le Mans FC - 2nd, 58 pts

Double promotion destiny is in the hands of Patrick Vidiera's side.

Le Mans are hoping to hark back to the memories of Stephane Sessengon and Gervinho during their mid-2000s spell in Ligue 1, as they look to finish off a fairytale season with a double promotion achievement. Manager Patrick Videira has orchestrated one of the stories of the season with Les Mucistes in their first season back in the division after earning promotion from the Championnat National last season. MU72 are the side currently sat in second place with two finals against Reims and Bastia to finish off the season and realise a dream of returning to the big time.

AS Saint-Étienne - 3rd, 57 pts

After passing up the title to Troyes, the pressure is on for Phillippe Montanier's side.

Sainté were the favourites for both automatic promotion and the title this season after managing to keep their star players such as Lucas Stassin and Zuriko Davtishvili after dropping down from Ligue 1 last season. But the pressure is now on, after they lost 3-0 to Troyes last weekend and trail Le Mans by just one point in third place. Manager Phillipe Montanier has managed to turn around Sainté's form after the departure of Eirik Horneland earlier this season - but Les Verts could be stumbling just as they reach the finish line after two straight losses. ASSE will face play-off chasers Rodez before bottom side Amiens on the final day of the season: the pressure could not be greater for the Chaudron.

Red Star FC - 4th,  54 pts

L'Étoile Rouge are reaching new heights, but can they reach further?  The margins will be tight.

The Paris suburb side are going through one of their best seasons at their highest level for 30 years and if not for the incredible rise of Le Mans, would be the story of the Ligue 2 season. Manager Grégory Poirier fashioned a relegation-threatened side last season into a formidable force for a potentially historic promotion this campaign. The likes of Damien Durand, Giovanni Haag, and young talent Jovany Ikanga have been trusted to fire Les Audoniens near the top of the table.

Yet their push has seen limits: defeats to Saint-Étienne, Reims, and a run of draws in the middle of the season puts l'Étoile Rouge in pole position for the play-offs. Yet, if Sainté and Le Mans slip up in the final two games, Poirier's men still could be poised to take automatic promotion. RSFC will face bottom side Amiens before Montpellier in the final two games of the season.

Stade de Reims - 5th, 52 pts

Will Karel Geraerts have to settle for the play-offs, or will a late-season miracle see champagne flowing at the end of the season? 

Karel Geraerts' side have somewhat underperformed when Les Champenois were expected to be fighting for the top two this season. After an underwhelming start to the season, a pick-up in form put the relegated Ligue 1 side back into the promotion picture. If results such as the 3-2 win over Red Star saw Les Rémois surge back up the table, their latest draw against Rodez would be costly, as theft now sit six points behind Le Mans in the second spot. But, in football, anything can happen. Reims will face Le Mans in a huge clash next Saturday, before finishing the season at Pau.

Rodez AF - 6th, 52 PTs

RAF are in a battle for the play-offs, will goal-difference see promotion hopes come crashing down? 

Rodez have been one of the model Ligue 2 BKT clubs in recent years. After reaching a historic fourth place during the 2023-2024 campaign, Didier Santini's side survived a disappointing campaign last season to return to play-off contention this season. RAF will have to face a tough test in Saint-Étienne before fellow play-off chasers Annecy in the final game of the season. Rodez currently sit joint with Reims, with an inferior goal-difference which could finally be vital by the final day of the season.

The play-offs

The play-offs in Ligue 2 BKT involve the teams that finish 3rd, 4th and 5th at the end of the season. First, the 5th-placed team travels to face the 4th in a one-off match (Play-off 1). The winner of that game then travels to the 3rd-placed side for another single match (Play-off 2). The team that comes out on top qualifies for the promotion play-off against the 16th-placed team in Ligue 1 McDonald's. If a play-off match is level after 90 minutes, it goes straight to a penalty shootout to decide the winner.

WATCH: Ligue 2 BKT matchday 32 highlights 

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