Hantz and Landreau depart

Departing Bastia coach Frederic Hantz and retiring goalkeeper Mickael Landreau bowed out with a goalless draw against Nantes.

Departing Bastia coach Frederic Hantz and retiring goalkeeper Mickael Landreau bowed out with a goalless draw in their Ligue 1 finale against Nantes on Saturday evening. Hantz announced earlier this week that he would be leaving his post at the end of the season after four years at the helm, but his players could not give him a winning send-off as their league season petered out in disappointing fashion. The result saw Bastia and Nantes finish 10th and 13th, respectively, in the league standings. The hosts had much the better of the first-half chances, but could not find a way past Remy Riou. Julian Palmieri did well down the left in the third minute and produced a dangerous cross towards Gianni Bruno, only for his near-post effort to skim the post with Riou beaten. Half an hour later, Bruno sent a low cross towards Ilan but the Brazilian's low right-footed volley was kept out by a fine reflex save from Riou. Florian Raspentino then laid the ball off for Yannick Cahuzac, and again Riou was in the right place to save his 25-yard drive. The visitors failed to muster much of an attacking threat in the early exchanges, their first sight of goal arriving four minutes before the interval when Serge Gakpe lashed a first-time shot just wide after Sebastien Squillaci had made a poor attempt to clear Remi Gomis' cross. Bruno was inches away from giving the home team the lead 10 minutes into the second half after latching onto a cross from substitute Milos Krasic, but failed to trouble Riou. Nantes were showing more intent going forward after the break and gave Bastia a couple of nervy moments as the game wore on, but were unable to beat Landreau. First the 35-year-old Bastia stopper tipped the ball away for a corner after Ismael Bangoura had connected with Gakpe's cross, and then substitute Banel Nicolita sent another volley narrowly wide from Issa Cissokho's cross as the match ended in a stalemate.