Nantes have marked their return to Ligue 1 with victory over Bastia in a match that saw both sides reduced to 10 men in a frantic second half.

The hosts started brightly and took the lead on 24 minutes through Filip Djordjevic, who broke the deadlock from close range.

Nantes had their chances of an opening-day victory dented early in the second half when French youth international Jordan Veretout was sent off for a second bookable offence.

That decision gave Bastia a chance to respond but they also had a player dismissed just six minutes later when Ilan got his marching orders.

Bastia pushed for a late equaliser but in stoppage time once saw their hopes of salvaging a point dashed, with Julian Palmieri putting through his own net to hand Nantes a 2-0 home success.