France Ligue 2
| Date | R | Home v Away | - |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01/29 19:00 | 23 |
Brest v Paris FC
|
1-0 |
| 01/29 19:00 | 23 |
Tours v AC Ajaccio
|
1-1 |
| 01/29 19:00 | 23 |
Creteil v Dijon
|
0-1 |
| 01/29 19:00 | 23 |
Sochaux v Bourg-Peronnas
|
1-1 |
| 01/29 19:00 | 23 |
Valenciennes v Red Star FC 93
|
0-0 |
| 01/29 19:00 | 23 |
Nimes v Auxerre
|
2-1 |
| 01/29 19:00 | 23 |
Nancy v Clermont Foot
|
3-1 |
| 01/29 19:00 | 23 |
Laval v Niort
|
0-0 |
| 01/25 19:30 | 22 |
Clermont Foot v Le Havre
|
2-1 |
| 01/25 19:00 | 22 |
AC Ajaccio v Brest
|
2-1 |
| 01/23 13:00 | 22 |
Lens v Dijon
|
1-1 |
| 01/23 13:00 | 22 |
Red Star FC 93 v Laval
|
2-0 |
| 01/22 19:00 | 22 |
Metz v Creteil
|
2-1 |
| 01/22 19:00 | 22 |
Auxerre v Tours
|
2-1 |
| 01/22 19:00 | 22 |
Nancy v Nimes
|
3-4 |
| 01/22 19:00 | 22 |
Paris FC v Sochaux
|
0-0 |
| 01/22 19:00 | 22 |
Bourg-Peronnas v Valenciennes
|
0-0 |
| 01/18 19:30 | 21 |
Valenciennes v Metz
|
2-1 |
| 01/16 13:00 | 21 |
Brest v Nancy
|
1-1 |
| 01/15 19:00 | 21 |
Creteil v Lens
|
1-1 |
| 01/15 19:00 | 21 |
Nimes v Clermont Foot
|
6-2 |
| 01/15 19:00 | 21 |
Sochaux v Niort
|
2-3 |
| 01/15 19:00 | 21 |
Dijon v Bourg-Peronnas
|
3-0 |
| 01/15 19:00 | 21 |
Le Havre v Paris FC
|
2-1 |
| 01/15 19:00 | 21 |
Tours v Red Star FC 93
|
0-0 |
| 01/15 19:00 | 21 |
Laval v Auxerre
|
4-1 |
| 01/11 19:30 | 20 |
Metz v Sochaux
|
1-0 |
| 01/09 13:00 | 20 |
Red Star FC 93 v Lens
|
1-2 |
| 01/08 19:00 | 20 |
Niort v Dijon
|
2-2 |
| 01/08 19:00 | 20 |
Nimes v Brest
|
2-0 |
Teams
Valenciennes
AC Ajaccio
Sochaux
Niort
Le Havre
Auxerre
Paris FC
Clermont Foot
Grenoble
Nancy
Troyes
Nimes
Amiens
Laval
Caen
Rodez Aveyron
Guingamp
Brest
Pau
Chateauroux
US Orleans 45
Lens
US Quevilly
Ajaccio GFCA
Tours
SC Bastia
Dunkerque
Dijon
Metz
Red Star FC 93
Lorient
Bourg-Peronnas
Annecy
St Etienne
Reims
Toulouse
Bordeaux
Angers
Creteil
Chambly Thelle FC
Strasbourg
AS Beziers
Concarneau
Martigues
Le Mans
Wasquehal
Istres
Beauvais
Wikipedia - Ligue 2
Ligue 2 (French pronunciation: [liɡ dø], League 2), also known as Ligue 2 BKT due to sponsorship reasons, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division. Contested by 18 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with both Ligue 1 and the third division Championnat National. Seasons run from August to May, with teams playing 34 games each, totalling 306 games in the season. Most games are played on Fridays and Mondays, with a few games played during weekday and weekend evenings. Play is regularly suspended the last weekend before Christmas for two weeks before returning in the second week of January.
Ligue 2 was founded a year after the creation of the first division in 1933 under the name Division 2 and has served as the second division of French football ever since. The name lasted until 2002 before switching to its current name. Since the league is a part of the LFP, it allows clubs who are on the brink of professionalism to become so.
History
The second division of French football was established in 1933, one year after the creation of the all-professional first division. The inaugural season of the competition consisted of the six clubs who were relegated following the 1932–33 National season, as well as many of the clubs who opposed the creation of the first division the previous season. Clubs such as Strasbourg, RC Roubaix, and Amiens SC all played in the second division's debut season despite having prior grievances with the subjective criteria needed to become professional and play in the first division. The first year of the second division consisted of twenty-three clubs and were divided into two groups (Nord and Sud). Fourteen of the clubs were inserted into the Nord section, while the remaining nine were placed in Sud. Following the season, the winner of each group faced each other to determine which club would earn promotion. On 20 May 1934, the winner of the Nord group, Red Star Saint-Ouen, faced Olympique Alès, the winner of the Sud group. Red Star were crowned the league's inaugural champions following a 3–2 victory. Despite losing, Alès was also promoted to the first division and they were followed by Strasbourg and Mulhouse, who each won a pool championship, after the first division agreed to expand its teams to 16.
| Season | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1933–34 | Red Star Saint-Ouen |
| 1934–35 | CS Metz |
| 1935–36 | Rouen |
| 1936–37 | Lens |
| 1937–38 | Le Havre |
| 1938–39 | Red Star Saint-Ouen |
Due to several clubs merging, folding, or losing their professional status, the federation turned the second division into a 16-team league and adopted the single-table method for the 1934–35 season. Due to the unpredictable nature of French football clubs, the following season, the league increased to 19 clubs and, two years later, increased its allotment to 25 teams with the clubs being divided into four groups. Because of World War II, football was suspended by the French government and the Ligue de Football Professionnel. Following the end of the war, the second division developed stability. Due to the increase in amateur clubs, the league intertwined professional and amateur clubs and allowed the latter to become professional if they met certain benchmarks. In 2002, the league changed its name from Division 2 to Ligue 2.
In November 2014, the presidents of Caen and Nîmes were amongst several arrested on suspicion of match fixing. The arrests followed a 1–1 draw between Caen and Nîmes in May 2014, a result very beneficial for each club.
France Ligue 2, officially known as Ligue 2 BKT for sponsorship reasons, is the second tier of professional football in France. Established in 1933, this prestigious tournament serves as a crucial platform for clubs aspiring to ascend to the top-flight Ligue 1. Featuring a competitive field of 20 teams, Ligue 2 showcases a blend of historic clubs, emerging talents, and passionate fanbases, all vying for promotion to the elite level of French football.
The tournament operates on a traditional league format, where each team plays 38 matches over the course of a season, facing every other team both home and away. Points are awarded based on match results, with three points for a win, one point for a draw, and none for a loss. The teams that finish the season in the top two positions earn automatic promotion to Ligue 1, while the teams finishing in the 3rd to 5th positions enter a playoff to compete for the final promotion spot.
Ligue 2 is known for its competitive nature and unpredictability, often featuring thrilling matches and dramatic storylines. It serves as a vital breeding ground for young talent, with many players using their time in Ligue 2 to showcase their skills and secure moves to bigger clubs in Ligue 1 and beyond. The tournament also plays a significant role in the development of coaching and management talent, as clubs strive to build successful teams capable of competing at higher levels.
With a rich history and a reputation for fostering talent, France Ligue 2 remains an essential part of the French football landscape, captivating fans with its intensity and passion. Whether you’re a die-hard supporter or a casual observer, Ligue 2 promises an exciting journey through the heart of French football.