Early goals from strike duo Karim Benzema and Fred put the visitors in control and Kim Kallstrom added a third six minutes after the interval.

Frederic Thomas pulled one back for Auxerre 12 minutes from time but it was not enough to affect the outcome as Les Gones finished four points clear of Bordeaux, who were held to a 2-2 draw at Lens.

That result means Jean-Pierre Papin's Lens are relegated to Ligue 2 following Toulouse's 2-1 home victory over Valenciennes.

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Lens twice went behind to goals from Fernando Cavenaghi and substitute David Bellion after 66 and 80 minutes respectively. They battled back within four minutes of going behind each time - through Olivier Monterrubio and Toifilou Maoulida - but it was not enough.

Toulouse enjoyed the perfect start to their match when Jeremy Mathieu put them ahead after just five minutes.

VA levelled through Johan Audel six minutes before the break but Pantxi Sirieix's winner 15 minutes from time ensured Toulouse will be playing top-flight football next season.

Paris St Germain also ensured their safety with a 2-1 victory at Sochaux, Amara Diane notching a goal either side of Guiranne N'daw's equaliser.

The other major battle to be decided on Saturday was the one for third spot and it was won by Marseille, thanks to their 4-3 victory over relegated Strasbourg and Nancy's 3-2 defeat at home to Rennes.

Mamadou Niang put OM ahead after six minutes only for James Fanchone and to turn the game on its head by the 20-minute mark.

Marseille hit back with two goals on the stroke of half-time - the first through Samir Nasri and the second a Djibril Cisse rebound after his penalty had been saved - to make it 3-2 at the interval.

Strasbourg substitute Simon Zenke restored parity for his side after 72 minutes but Cisse struck his second to earn a dramatic win for Eric Gerets' team.

Gerets had voiced concern pre-match at the fact his team's fate was not in their own hands, but he need not have worried as Rennes did them the favour they required.

Francis Malonga Ntsayi looked to have set Nancy on their way after seven minutes but the visitors hit back through Stephane M'bia Etoundi 13 minutes before the break and Mickael Pagis three minutes after the restart.

Andre Luiz levelled matters seven minutes later but Pagis notched his second to deny Nancy the third Champions League spot. They will have to settle for a place in the UEFA Cup next term.

St Etienne finish fifth after ending their campaign on a high with a 4-0 thumping of Monaco. Bafetimbi Gomis netted twice with Geoffrey Dernis and Pascal Feindouno also on target.

Bottom club Metz signed off for the season with an entertaining 4-3 home win over Le Mans.

Cedric Barbosa, Miralem Pjanic and Babacar Gueye gave the hosts a commanding 3-0 lead, and were further encouraged by the 41st-minute dismissal of Le Mans substitute Jean Calve.

Despite being a man down, the visitors reduced the deficit through goals from Vinicius De Melo and Paulo Andre Cren Benini but Vincent Bessat put the game beyond them before they could bag a third through substitute Ludovic Baal.

Elsewhere on the final day of the French season, Nice claimed a 3-1 win over Caen - David Hellebuyck, Honorato Ederson, (penalty) and Bakari Kone the men on target for the victors and Julien Toudic for the losers - while Lille earned a 1-1 draw at Lorient when Fernandes Michel Bastos cancelled out Rafik Saifi's opener.