National | All the permutations for promotion and relegation on a palpitating final evening | OneFootball

National | All the permutations for promotion and relegation on a palpitating final evening | OneFootball

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·26 May 2023

National | All the permutations for promotion and relegation on a palpitating final evening

Article image:National | All the permutations for promotion and relegation on a palpitating final evening

A thrilling evening lies ahead on the final day of French football’s third division. With the battle for survival raging, teams such as Nancy, Châteauroux and Avranches must give their all to ensure their presence in the division next season. Meanwhile, Red Star, Concarneau, Dunkerque and Martigues are battling it out for promotion places

What are the promotion permutations?

A thrilling promotion race will find its conclusion on Friday evening, with four sides still fighting for the two promotion spots in the league:


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  • Currently top of the table on goal difference, Concarneau travel to Orléans with the chance of securing promotion with a win.
  • Dunkerque, level on points with the Breton side, face Le Mans away and a win would also open the doors to Ligue 2.
  • As for Red Star, they must win their game and hope that Concarneau or Dunkerque do not win. In the case that either one or both Concarneau and Dunkerque draw, promotion will be decided by the record against each team. 
  • After their unbelievable defeat by bottom-placed Bastia-Borgo last week, when they had the chance to secure promotion, Martigues welcome Versailles to their home on the outskirts of Marseille. To qualify, they must win their game and hope that two of their rivals slip up.

Nancy, Châteauroux, and Avranches all at risk of the drop to National 2 (4th tier)

The battle for survival is just – if not more as intense. This year the Championnat National has had the added precocity of six relegation places. This means that some big former Ligue 2 sides have been dragged into the mix all season, and still could go down on the final day.

  • Bourg-Péronnas, currently 14th, must win their game against Nancy (13th) if they are to have any chance of avoiding relegation. However, their fate also depends on the result of Châteauroux, who must also win to ensure their safety and potentially relegate either Bourg-Péronnas or Nancy.
  • US Avranches, currently 11th, are not yet safe and could be relegated if either Bourg-Péronnas or Nancy win their games and Avranches lose theirs.
  • As for 10th-placed Le Mans, they could also be drawn into the relegation battle if they lose their match and Bourg-Péronnas, Nancy and Châteauroux all win their games.

GFFN | George Boxall

Photo Credit: Bazil Fleury – @icietailleurs55 on Instagram.

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