Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Relegation play-off second leg, 29/05/26

OGC Nice will play in Ligue 1 next season after beating AS Saint-Étienne (4-1, agg. 4-1) in Friday night’s relegation play-off.

Even without fans in attendance, this was always going to be a nervy night at the Allianz Riviera. OGC Nice, playing in front of empty stands after their fans stormed the pitch following the final whistle nearly a fortnight ago, were fighting to keep their place in Ligue 1 for next season; Saint-Étienne had come to snatch it off them.

An aptly named ‘Match of Fear’

Neither side tried to land a blow in the first leg, which ended without a single shot on target registered. Everything was to play for. The stakes were incredibly high for a Nice team, who none predicted would be in this predicament at the start of the season, which, lest we forget, began with participation in the preliminary rounds of the UEFA Champions League. Les Verts, meanwhile, were expected to make an immediate return to Ligue 1 following last season’s relegation, given that they had retained their two star assets in the form of Lucas Stassin and Zuriko Davitashvili. 

It was Stassin who had the ball in the back of the net in the 10th minute, but he was in an offside position when he deflected Irvin Cardona’s effort past Yehvann Diouf. The relegation play-off has been given the name “The Match of Fear” in France and the home side certainly played with fear of what could be lost. 

Stassin went close again, but with two efforts on the stretch, couldn’t direct them on target. In the meantime, Elye Wahi struck the post and it was the home side, awoken by a couple of close calls, who were awoken and finished the half the strongest; Dante and Antoine Mendy both went close.

Le Gym continued to create the lion’s share of the chances and it was only thanks to Gautier Larsonneur that Sainté were still level. The ASSE goalkeeper made a strong double save, first denying Kail Boudache and then Wahi in the same move. Three minutes later and Nice took the lead thanks to a volley from Jonathan Clauss.

Boudache and Wahi with parting gifts?

Boudache and Wahi went close once again; Larsonneur was equal to their efforts and Saint-Étienne made the most of their reprieve. A penalty contentiously awarded for an Antoine Mendy handball, Ligue 2 POTS, Zuriko Davitashvili stepped up to slot home the resulting penalty. 

With 10 minutes to go, the game truly burst into life. Boudache, linked with a move away from his formative club, curled home to restore Nice’s advantage; this celebration was one of rage and relief. Saint-Étienne had to push and did. They couldn’t force the issue, but they would leave spaces in behind. 

Wahi was twice put in behind, twice one-on-one against Larsonneur; he kept his nerve, effectively ending the game as a contest, despite the nine minutes of added time announced. He will leave following the expiry of his loan. Quite the parting gift. 

For Nice, disaster has been narrowly avoided. Saint-Étienne have crashed into the iceberg. It is a loss that won’t be without consequence. The club’s owners are ambitious, but surely this time their most valuable assets cannot retained this time.