Second Division. Sochaux had exelent season and dominated Group A with very impressive performance.
Chatellerault finished last with 27 points and was relegated. Remember Hugo Bargas? Well, few remembered him by that year…
Tours – 17th with 27 points. Ahead of Chatellerault on better goal-difference, but relegated anyway. Used to play top league football? That was in the past.
Ajaccio – Gazelec Ajaccio to be precise, because of the other club with almost identical name – ended 16th with 27 and was the third relegated team.
Dijon – 15th with 28 points. Survived by a point.
Istres – 14th with 28 points. Lucky to survive as well.
Le Puy – 13th with 28 points. Goal-difference placed them above Istres and Dijon.
Sete – 12th with 29 points. Bathenay trying his hand at coaching, but coaching a team no longer even remembering playing First Division football was serious trial.
Martigues – 11th with 31 points.
Gueugnon – 10th with 31 points.
Grenoble – 9th with 32 points. Who could envision a future world champion in this team.
Bastia – 8th with 33 points. Glory days were 10 years ago already.
Cuiseaux-Louhans – 7th with 33 points. Not bad at all.
Nimes Olympique – 6th with 36 points. 40-40 goal-difference – a rarity.
Orleans – 5th with 36 points.
Montceau-les-Mines – 4th with 40 points. Quite an achievement.
Olympique Ales – 3rd with 41 points. Strong season.
Olympique Lyonnais – 2nd with 44 points. Unable to really fight for promotion – perhaps the squad tells why: it is rather modest.
Sochaux-Montbeliard – powerful champions with 61 points. 17 points ahead of Lyon! 29 wins, 3 ties and only 2 lost games. But their scoring record was fantastic: 97-17. Goal-difference of +80! Going back to top flight and more – this season was quite remarkable and due to strong Yugoslavian presence: coach Takac plus well known Bazdarevic and Hadzibegic.
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