2016–17 Ligue 2

The 2016–17 Ligue 2 (referred to as the Domino's Ligue 2 for sponsorship reasons) season is the 78th season since its establishment. The fixtures were announced on 6 June 2016.

Teams

There are 20 clubs in the league, with three promoted teams from Championnat National replacing the three teams that were relegated from Ligue 2 following the 2015–16 season. All clubs that secured Ligue 2 status for the season were subject to approval by the DNCG before becoming eligible to participate.

As of 30 May 2016, the following teams have mathematically achieved qualification for the 2016–17 season. They are listed below in alphabetical order.

 Ajaccio
 Amiens
 Auxerre
 Bourg-en-Bresse
 Brest
 Clermont
 Gazélec Ajaccio
 Laval
 Le Havre
 Lens
 Nîmes
 Niort
 Orléans
 Red Star
 Reims
 Sochaux
 Strasbourg
 Tours
 Troyes
 Valenciennes

Title & Promotion race
Going into the final day of the season, 6 teams had a chance of getting promoted and winning the title. Strasbourg, Brest, Troyes, Lens, Nîmes and Amiens all had a chance at winning the league and gaining promotion.

Title run-in
All matches were at the same time. The matches were Strasbourg vs Bourg Péronnas (home), Amiens vs Reims (away), Stade Lavallois Mayenne vs Nimes (away), Lens vs Niort (home), Brest vs GFC Ajaccio (home), and FC Sochaux-Montbéliard vs Troyes (away).

The teams last season in Ligue 1
Strasbourg last played in the 2007-08, Nimes in 1992-93, Lens in 2014-15, ESTAC Troyes in 2015-16, Brest in 2012-13, but Amiens never played in Ligue 1 in their history.

First Half
Aboubakar Kamara opened the scoring for Amiens  very early into the game, but 2 minutes later, Kader Mangane opened the scoring for Strasbourg. Later, there was an own goal from Kévin Hoggas for Bourg en Bresse. Earlier, Kermit Erasmus opened the scoring against Niort in the 7th minute. Soon after, Florent Ogier scored for Sochaux to make it 1-0. Later, Yoane Wissa scored for Stade Lavallois to make it 1-0. Earlier, Steeven Joseph-Monrose and Habib Diallo scored for Brest not too early. Later, Florian Tardieu scored for Sochaux to make it 2-0, followed by a penalty goal by Bruno Grougi. But earlier, Cristian López scored for Lens.

Second Half
Olivier Kemen scored for GFC Ajaccio, followed by a goal from Sada Thioub and a goal from Andé Dona Ndoh. And later, Stéphane Darbion scored. Reims player Diego Rigonato scored for Reims. Habib Diallo scored earlier early into the second half. Cristian Battocchio scored in the 72nd minute which was the penultimate goal for Brest that season. Right after, Loïc Damour scored in the. 75th minute. But Benjamin Nivet and Robert Maah scored in the 77th and 78th minute respectively. Later, Cristian Battocchio scored to make it 6-2 which was Brest’s last goal of 2016/17. Later, Téji Tedy Savanier scored from a spot kick late into the game. And, in the same minute, Samuel Grandsir scored a vital goal for Troyes that could secure promotion. But Cristian López scored a late goal for Lens. and in the 89th minute, Grégory Berthier was sent off for Reims. But in the 96th minute, Emmanuel Bourgaud scored with the last kick of the season to secure promotion for Amiens for the first time in their history.

Outcome
After the final matchday, Strasbourg won the title and were promoted alongside Amiens and later, Troyes joined them by beating Lorient. They replaced the latter, AS Nancy Lorraine & SC Bastia.

Reviews
It was the closest title race ever according to a  FourFourTwo.

Aftermath
On 2023, French channel Remontada uploaded a video about that title race.

Team changes

To Ligue 2
Promoted from National
  Strasbourg
  Orléans
  Amiens
Relegated from Ligue 1
  Troyes
  Gazélec Ajaccio
  Reims

From Ligue 2
Relegated to National
 Evian TG
 Paris FC
 Créteil
Promoted to Ligue 1
 Nancy
 Dijon
 Metz

Stadia and locations

 1 Red Star original stadium, Stade Bauer, is not permitted to host professional matches. The club are playing their home games at Stade Jean-Bouin.

Personnel and kits

1Subject to change during the season.

Managerial changes

League table

Results

Top scorers

Play-offs
The 2016–17 season will see the return of a relegation play-off between the 18th placed Ligue 1 team and the 3rd placed team in the Ligue 2 in a two-legged confrontation. The Ligue 2 team will host the first game. Another relegation play-off involves the 18th placed Ligue 2 team and the 3rd placed National team also in two legs.

Orléans won 2–0 on aggregate.

Attendances

References

Ligue 2 seasons
2
France