Rennes and Nice secure spots in the Ligue 1 and Europa League qualification rounds, respectively.

The French football season is finally underway with the first round of fixtures in Ligue 1 and Europa League qualifying matches taking place on Sunday.

In one of the most exciting games of the weekend, Rennes secured their spot in the Europa League by defeating Strasbourg 2-1 at Stade de la Beaujoire. The victory was all the more impressive given that Rennes had to play against a side who had won their last six league matches and were unbeaten in their previous seven games.

Meanwhile, Nice also secured their spot in the Europa League after beating Toulouse 3-0 at the Parc des Princes. The victory was a much-needed boost for Nice, who have struggled for form this season and had only managed two wins in their previous eight games.

In other matches, Lens lost 1-0 to Montpellier, while Caen drew 1-1 with Paris Saint-Germain. Bordeaux lost 4-1 to Nice, but they still remain in contention for a top-four finish in the Ligue 1 table.

Overall, it has been a strong start to the season so far with many teams securing their places in the major European competitions. With just three months left before the end of the season, there will be plenty of surprises to come as teams continue to battle it out for the remaining spots in the top flight.