AJ Auxerre 2 - 1 Nantes

Auxerre 2-1 Nantes

Updated: August 9, 2008, 11:13 PM UK

AUXERRE, August 9 (Ligue 1) - Auxerre's bid to avoid a second straight relegation battle got off to a good start on Saturday as they beat newly-promoted Nantes at the Stade Abbe-Deschamps.

Ireneusz Jelen put the hosts ahead in the 36th minute, and although David De Freitas equalised for Nantes midway through the second half, parity lasted only four minutes before Julien Qercia put Auxerre in front for good.

Nantes can at least be encouraged by the number of chances they managed to create, as they enjoyed strong spells for much of the game.

It was the visitors who went close early on when Jacques Faty had a shot cleared off the line in a goalmouth scramble caused by Auxerre goalkeeper Rudy Riou's failure to handle a corner.

Nantes pushed forward again in the 20th minute as Riou did well to pluck the ball out of the air as Ivan Klasnic rose to meet Aurelien Capoue's cross.

Babovic then brushed the top left-hand corner of the goal with a shot from the edge of the penalty area after good play from Capoue.

But all the work was for nought as Jelen put Auxerre in front, heading home from Benoit Pedretti's corner after losing his marker.

The goal relaxed Auxerre, and they looked stronger in the second half, forcing Tony Heurtebis to make a double save as Quercia went close just after the hour mark.

But Nantes would level it when De Freitas fired in a stunning shot from 25 yards in the 68th minute, leaving Riou with no chance.

Just four minutes later however, Auxerre were back in front as Quercia met Kevin Lejeune's cross for an easy finish to clinch the three points.