Saint-Etienne Miss Chance to Take Control in Relegation Play-Off First Leg

Saint-Etienne vs Nice Ends in stalemate in Ligue 1 relegation play-off

Philippe Montanier’s men couldn’t break down Nice despite home advantage, leaving everything to play for in the return leg.

Les Aiglons failed to find a breakthrough in a quiet first leg, keeping their 24-year top-flight stay in jeopardy...

  

Saint-Etienne and OGC Nice played out a tight 0-0 draw in the first leg of the Ligue 1 relegation play-off. Neither team managed a single shot on target in a cagey encounter.

Nice began the season in a Champions League qualifier and played the Coupe de France final last Friday. Despite that, a poor league campaign left them facing the shock possibility of finishing the season in Ligue 2.

The two-legged tie gave Nice a late chance to avoid relegation. They came up against Saint-Etienne, the 10-time French champions who are looking to return to Ligue 1 right away.

Things didn’t start well for Claude Puel’s side when Hicham Boudaoui had to leave the pitch after a clash with Abdoulaye Kanté. The injury puts the Algerian’s availability for Friday’s second leg in doubt.

With so much on the line, it was no surprise that the game started slowly. In the first 20 minutes, Irvin Cardona’s cross-shot was easily saved by Yehvann Diouf, and Morgan Sanson’s volley went well wide. Not much else happened.

There was a flash of controversy before halftime when referee Benoit Bastien went to the pitchside monitor to check Kojo Peprah’s challenge on Luan Gadegbeku.

Saint-Etienne were first given a free-kick just outside the box and thought they might get a penalty. Instead, the decision was oddly overturned and play was restarted with a drop ball.

After the break, Saint-Etienne looked the more likely to score first. Zuriko Davitashvili cut in from the left and curled a right-footed shot just wide of the far post.

  

Augustine Boakye then had a go with a left-footed volley that skimmed just over the bar. It came after Davitashvili’s corner was cleared into the Ghanaian’s path.

The Saint-Etienne fans who were hoping that spell would bring an opening goal were left disappointed. Neither side did enough to take the advantage into the second leg.

The first leg of this play-off ends all square, so Le Gym will have to win at the Allianz Riviera on Friday night to stay up.#asseogcn pic.twitter.com/d2qOf1F76H

— OGC Nice 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@ogcnice_eng) May 26, 2026

This match won’t be remembered fondly. Philippe Montanier’s side might regret not making more of their vocal home support to push for a win, especially with a tense second leg coming up in three days.

For Nice, their 24-year run in the top flight is still very much at risk. The season could still end in disaster for Les Aiglons.