A giant picture of the 28-year-old was displayed on the centre circle before Sunday's match at Stade de la Beaujoire with footage of him playing in the club's traditional yellow and green shown on a giant screen to gentle background music.

Fans then broke out into chants of "Emiliano Sala, Emiliano, Emiliano, Emiliano Sala" and clapped along to the refrain.

Just before kick-off a minute's applause was held as a giant picture of Sala's face was shown on the screen.

After nine minutes the crowd chanted Sala's name to remember the No.9 shirt her wore, a number which has since been retired by the club.

Bordeaux won the game 1-0 with veteran forward Jimmy Briand scoring with a low volley from just inside the penalty area.

Nantes midfielder Andrei Girotto was sent off early in the second half for a second yellow card.

The fans chanted Sala's name again for several minutes near the end of the game.

"He's still in our thoughts," Nantes captain Abdoulaye Toure said.

"We wanted to win this match for him but we didn't manage to."

Meanwhile, Karl Toko Ekambi scored on his Lyon debut in a 3-0 home win against last-place Toulouse.

The Cameroon striker, who joined from Spanish side Villarreal completed the scoring in the 77th as Lyon maintained their unbeaten start to 2020.

Maxwell Cornet opened the scoring for Lyon in the 29th and striker Moussa Dembele added the second in the 71st.

Lyon, who reached the League Cup final on Tuesday, moved provisionally up to fifth place.

League leaders Paris Saint-Germain play later at Lille, where they lost 5-1 last season.

A win would move defending champions PSG 10 points clear of second-placed Marseille.

Australian Associated Press