As Flight of the Conchords would say, it’s Business Time! In the antepenultimate weekend of the season, every match seemed to have something major at stake. Some teams responded well to the challenge, some less so, leading to some great entertainment, lots of goals – and actually a lot of issues seemingly decided earlier than expected.

One of the big two matches of the weekend was the basement clash between Evian and Reims, which may go some way to deciding the third team to be relegated from Ligue 1. In an epic match which swung one way, then the other, Reims took the lead, fell behind, and came back again to secure a massive 3-2 away win. Four points adrift with two matches remaining, Evian may finally drop out of the top flight.

Like Pierre the French fighter pilot, if you’re going to go down, go down in flames. Metz certainly managed that, confirming their relegation with an embarrassing 4-0 home defeat to Lorient, which in turn almost certainly secures les Merlus’ Ligue 1 status. Lorient are five ahead of Evian on 42 points, along with three other teams.

The first is Toulouse, who came from behind twice to eventually beat Lille 3-2. New coach Dominic Arribagé is doing a cracking job – and let’s be honest, is almost as much of a managerial dreamboat as Hervé Renard! For the other two teams level on points, we have to jump back to the top of the table.

Caen also moved to 42 points after a superb 3-0 win at home to Lyon, who were kept at bay by ex-keeper Vercoutre and have realistically said goodbye to any Ligue 1 title hopes after that defeat, allied to PSG’s awesome 6-0 win over a disinterested Guingamp – if you are going to more or less sew up the title, that’s a very impressive way to do it!

Caen, Lorient and Toulouse are joined on 42 points by Nice, who were put to the sword at Saint-Etienne. Les Verts almost matched PSG, putting five past les Aiglons – a great response after last week’s disappointing Bastia defeat.

Saint-Etienne remain in fifth place, level on points with Marseille, both teams now only two points behind third-placed Monaco after Bielsa’s men came back from conceding a first-minute goal to Jardim’s boys, to eventually win 2-1. A great comeback victory in the weekend’s big match, Marseille’s second straight win, their first at home since January – things are looking a little more up for les Phocéens. Monaco will still be favourites for the final Champions League spot, but that defeat pretty much assures Lyon’s young team of a fantastic second-placed finish.

Elsewhere, Anthony Mounier’s last minute goal at Lens gave Montpellier a 1-0 win which keeps them in Europa League contention; Bastia are now in the top half of the table after somehow surviving an absolute mauling to win 1-0 at Rennes despite being down to ten men; and finally, amid very emotional scenes, Bordeaux said goodbye to their Chaban Delmas home with a 2-1 win over Nantes. Next stop, le Nouveau Stade Bordeaux, where they will host Montpellier in the final game of the season.

Player of the Week, for his two goals and one assist which may just have saved his team’s Ligue 1 status, is ex-Liverpool and -Bolton striker David N’Gog. Joining him in the Team of the Week are:

Goals of the Week

Another goalfest as Ligue 1 hits the 36-goal mark again – the fifth time we’ve reached at least that figure this season – more than any of the other major leagues in fact! Some decent goals just miss out this week, including Trejo, Philippoteaux, Danic, Mounier and Moukandjo.

In third place is Wissam Ben Yedder’s equaliser for Toulouse. Akpa Akpro made the goal, marauding down the right before cutting the ball back to WBY on the edge of the area, who hit an excellent first time left-footed shot which curled away from Enyeama into the far top corner.

In second place is Jeremy Clement’s goal for Saint-Etienne. A long throw was half-cleared to the edge of the area where Clement, not exactly a prolific goalscorer, hit an excellent controlled volley which shot past Hassen and just inside the post.

Joint winners this week for two lovely – and hugely important – goals. First is Nicolas Benezet’s second for Caen: after patient team build-up down the right and a cute backheel from Ngolo Kante on the corner of the area, Benezet slalomed through a couple of weak challenges before powering the ball past Lopes at his near post. Second is David Ngog’s first for Reims: the finish was a tap-in but it completed a stylish team move, involving two long-range 1-2s between Oniangué and Diego.

Tune in next week for the first of two full 10-match multiplexes to end the season. Saturday night’s matches include Lille vs Marseille, Lyon vs Bordeaux and Montpellier vs PSG. Stick to @FrenchFtWeekly and @FFW_Live for full coverage.