7M - Ligue 1 Playoffs Preview: Nice vs St Etienne - prediction, team news, lineups

Following a tense, gritty goalless stalemate in the first leg at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Nice and Saint-Etienne reconvene at the Allianz Riviera on Friday night to decide who earns the final spot in the French top flight for next season. Claude Puel's side managed to frustrate the promotion hopefuls on their own turf, but they must now find an extra gear in front of their home crowd to secure their survival.

Match Preview

Nice entered this high-stakes promotion/relegation playoff final under immense pressure, suffering from both physical exhaustion and dented morale following their recent 3-1 defeat to Lens in the Coupe de France final. Les Aiglons endured a highly disappointing season, laboring to a 16th-placed finish in Ligue 1 after managing just two wins in their final 24 league outings. Having conceded 60 goals over the course of the year, their defensive stability has been heavily tested. However, they held firm under heavy pressure in the first leg, surviving a late flurry of corner deliveries and high intensity to secure a 0-0 draw.

Saint-Etienne, under the stewardship of Philippe Montanier, are targeting a swift return to the top flight after finishing third in the Ligue 2 standings. Les Verts booked their place in this final by squeezing past Rodez on penalties in the playoff semi-final. While they were unable to breach Nice's low block in the first leg despite executing a series of dangerous set-pieces from wide areas, Montanier's men will take confidence from their underlying numbers.

The pressure of the schedule heavily favors the visitors, who have enjoyed slightly more breathing room compared to a Nice side navigating a rapid succession of knockout matches. Nice can still find encouragement in recent history, having bested Saint-Etienne 2-1 in the Coupe de France back in December, but this second-leg encounter promises to be a much more cagey affair with everything on the line.

Team News

Nice will remain without their top goalscorer Sofiane Diop, who features prominently in the creative department but had to be withdrawn in the 62nd minute of the first leg for Isak Jansson. Furthermore, midfielder Hicham Boudaoui is a major doubt after being forced off with an injury just 11 minutes into Tuesday's clash, meaning Charles Vanhoutte is highly likely to step into the midfield unit from the start. Jonathan Clauss, who leads the team with five seasonal assists, will continue to provide width on the flank.

Saint-Etienne have their own concerns after star forward Zuriko Davitashvili was substituted in the final minutes of the first leg due to a potential knock, with Aimen Moueffek on standby to occupy his role. Up front, Lucas Stassin will lead the line, looking to build on his solid domestic campaign, while Raslan Kante is expected to line up in midfield despite picking up a caution in the previous meeting.

Prediction: Nice 1-0 St Etienne

With the first leg tied at 0-0, this decisive match will come down to fine margins and tactical patience. While Saint-Etienne possess the attacking efficiency to trouble the hosts, Nice's home advantage at the Allianz Riviera and their ability to rely on the experience of veteran defenders should see them through. Expect a tight, defensive battle that will likely be settled by a single goal.