Ligue 1: Nice Finish 16th After Stalemate with Metz, Face Survival Test

Nice held by Metz and sent to Ligue 1 relegation playoff

A goalless draw with Metz confirmed Nice’s 16th-place finish, extending their winless run and sending them into the relegation playoff.

Nice’s winless run continues as playoff fate sealed. Goalless draw sends Nice to Ligue 1 survival playoff...

Nice’s place in Ligue 1 is still at risk after a 0-0 draw with Metz. The result extended their winless run to eight games and sent them into the relegation/promotion playoff.

If Claude Puel’s side could have chosen one game to win and avoid the playoff, it would have been this one. They were at home against the bottom club, which also has the worst defensive record in Europe’s top five leagues.

Metz didn’t follow the script. The already-relegated visitors started well and rattled Nice early.

Yehvann Diouf made two saves in the opening 20 minutes to keep out efforts from Giorgi Abuashvili and Believe Munongo. Giorgi Kvilitaia then headed over from Gauthier Hein’s corner.

Les Aiglons tried to respond with off-target shots from Sofiane Diop and Ali Abdi. The mood inside the Allianz Riviera grew more tense after early goals for rivals Auxerre and Le Havre came through elsewhere.

Nice needed something to lift them before the break. Diop nearly delivered with a right-footed strike from the edge of the box that went just wide.

After halftime, Nice came out with more urgency and put pressure on the Metz box. Mohamed-Ali Cho and Dante both headed wide from crosses by Abdi and Jonathan Clauss. Jonathan Fischer was also forced into a save to deny Diop’s low shot.

Puel’s side kept pushing. Morgan Sanson played a fine pass through to Cho, but the striker poked his effort just wide of the far post.

That frustration in attack summed up their night. Elye Wahi worked his way into a good position in the box but couldn’t create a clear chance for himself.

The draw means Nice finish 16th and will face Saint-Étienne over two legs to keep their 24-year stay in Ligue 1 alive.

C'est terminé, le Gym devra passer par les barrages pour rester dans l'Élite la saison prochaine. #ogcnfcm pic.twitter.com/YxkIq7SUXo

— OGC Nice (@ogcnice) May 17, 2026

There’s still a chance for silverware in what has been an unusual season. Les Aiglons play Lens in the Coupe de France final next Friday.

Benoit Tavenot’s side showed fight in their final top-flight game before heading back to Ligue 2 next season.