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Bordeaux fans put on a show of support for the struggling Ligue 1 club ahead of their game against Rennes
Bordeaux snapped a run of five successive defeats with a 1-0 home victory over European hopefuls Rennes on Sunday to edge clear of a potential relegation battle.
Teenager Sekou Mara scored the winner 11 minutes into his first Ligue 1 start after Rennes were reduced to 10 men following the early dismissal of France midfielder Steven Nzonzi.
Some 800 Bordeaux fans escorted the Bordeaux team coach from their hotel to the Matmut Atlantique, in a show of support for a struggling club that was placed into administration last month.
American investment fund King Street recently announced it was going to pull its financial support for the six-time French champions, sparking fears the club could go out of business.
Supporters, some carrying smoke grenades and others waving flags, again voiced their anger at president Frederic Longuepee, accusing him of plunging the club into bankruptcy.
Last week, they had protested in front of the city's town hall demanding Longuepee's resignation. On Sunday, many supported the team from just outside ground as Bordeaux won for only the second time in 14 games.
Defeat for Rennes denied them the chance of climbing into the final European spot in fifth.
Bordeaux remained five points clear of the bottom three after Nantes hammered Brest 4-1 for their second win in a row.
Nimes are two points adrift of the relegation play-off place following a 2-2 home draw with Reims.
Lorient, in 17th, are level with Strasbourg and a point back of Bordeaux after a 2-0 victory over Angers, while Metz thrashed relegated Dijon 5-1.
Montpellier coach Michel Der Zakarian will leave the team at the end of the season, a club source confirmed prior to Sunday's 2-1 home loss against Saint-Etienne.
Der Zakarian, 58, has been in charge since 2017 and this season led Montpellier to the French Cup semi-finals for the first time in 24 years.
After seeing their 11-match league unbeaten run ended by Nice last weekend, Montpellier slumped to a second straight defeat despite an early goal from Andy Delort.
Romain Hamouma levelled for Saint-Etienne and Mathieu Debuchy grabbed the winner five minutes into the second half.
Monaco take on Lyon in Sunday's late match looking to stay within two points of leaders Lille, who beat Nice 2-0 on Saturday. Paris Saint-Germain are a point off top spot after their 2-1 win over Lens.
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