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Reims were relegated to Ligue 2 after four years in the top flight despite a 4-1 victory over second-placed Lyon.
The hosts were relying on results elsewhere, and Toulouse's dramatic 3-2 win in Angers meant Reims dropped out of Ligue 1.
Star man Nicolas De Preville was absent but David Guion's side wrapped up a memorable win thanks to goals from Aissa Mandi, Diego Rigonato, Atila Turan and Grejohn Kyei.
A solitary Maxwel Cornet goal was the only consolation for Lyon who secured the runners-up finish despite their heavy defeat.
Reims deserved to be ahead as early as the third minute when Diego's teasing cross found Antoine Devaux, but his clever header bounced off the top of the bar with Anthony Lopes well beaten.
Lyon provided an expected response, and when Alexandre Lacazette released Fekir into the area it looked like the visitors would take an early lead but the young midfielder dragged an effort wide of the post.
Then, just before the quarter-hour mark, the hosts grabbed the lead when Diego's free-kick from the left was prodded home at the back post by Mandi, much to the delight of the majority of the Stade Auguste-Delaune crowd.
Lyon were forced into an early change when Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa limped off and that swap proved costly as Reims added a second to stun their visitors after 34 minutes.
Gaetan Charbonnier and Kyei linked up well through the middle before the former's clever pass released Diego into the left of the area and the Brazilian needed no second invitation, firing under the helpless Lopes.
Lyon almost reduced the two-goal deficit just before the break when Clement Grenier's direct free-kick beat Johnny Placide in the Reims goal but the crossbar came to the hosts' rescue.
However, the hosts' evening improved even more so just after the break when Turan sent a stunning 30-yard effort over Lopes to prompt wild celebrations both on and off the pitch.
And it was 4-0 when Samuel Umtiti's clumsy challenge on Charbonnier gave away a penalty and Kyei confidently fired the resulting spot-kick beyond Lopes.
A Placide error gifted the visitors a glimmer of hope when he dropped the ball at the feet of Cornet, who netted to make it 4-1, but the hosts saw out an emphatic win that, in the end, did nothing for their survival hopes.
Two late Toulouse goals to earn victory at Angers ensured it was they, and not Reims, who would live to experience another season among the elite.
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LYON
