OGC Nice claimed a decisive 4-1 victory over AS Saint-Étienne at the Allianz Riviera on Thursday night, overturning a goalless first leg to retain their place in Ligue 1 for the 2026-27 season. The emphatic win in the promotion/relegation playoff condemns Saint-Étienne — one of France’s most historic clubs — to a second consecutive season in the second tier, missing the chance to return to the top flight after finishing third in Ligue 2.
Nice entered the tie under immense pressure. A disappointing 16th-place finish in the regular season forced them into this two-legged survival decider, and the psychological scars from a recent Coupe de France final defeat to Lens were still raw. Manager Claude Puel, a former Saint-Étienne boss, was tasked with avoiding a catastrophe that would have compounded a campaign of near-misses.
For Saint-Étienne, the stakes were equally high. Les Verts, record ten-time French champions, have been languishing outside the elite since their relegation in 2022. Under Philippe Montanier, they mounted a strong promotion push, finishing third to earn a spot in the playoff. A return to Ligue 1 would not only restore pride but also provide crucial financial relief for a club that has been rebuilding.
The match burst into life early when Saint-Étienne thought they had taken a precious lead in the ninth minute. Maltese forward Jurgen Cardona found the net, but the goal was ruled out after a VAR review — a decision that would set the tone for a night of technological interventions. The teams remained deadlocked at halftime, with Nice edging possession but struggling to create clear chances against a disciplined defensive setup.
Minutes after the restart, Nice finally broke through. Defender Jonathan Clauss, pushing forward from right-back, latched onto a cutback and fired a low shot past the Saint-Étienne goalkeeper to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. The goal injected belief into the home side and forced the visitors to abandon their conservative approach, opening up the game.
Saint-Étienne refused to fade, and their pressure paid off in the 79th minute when VAR again intervened — this time for a handball inside the Nice penalty area. Georgian midfielder Zuriko Davitashvili stepped up and coolly converted the spot-kick, leveling the aggregate score and silencing the stadium. With just over ten minutes remaining, the momentum swung dramatically toward Les Verts, who sensed an upset.
But Nice responded with remarkable speed. Only two minutes after the equalizer, Algerian playmaker Hicham Boudache restored the lead, finishing off a swift attacking move to make it 2-1. The psychological blow proved decisive, as Saint-Étienne’s composure unraveled. Nice regained control and looked increasingly dangerous on the counterattack.
Striker Elye Wahi then took center stage. In the 87th minute, he latched onto a through ball and slotted home to extend the lead to 3-1, effectively ending the contest. Deep into stoppage time, Wahi struck again — his second of the night and Nice’s fourth — after a frantic sequence that saw Saint-Étienne hit the crossbar at the other end. The brace capped a 4-1 scoreline that barely reflected the tense, back-and-forth nature of the match.
The outcome carries profound implications for both clubs. Nice avert an unthinkable relegation that would have had severe financial and reputational consequences. The return to Ligue 1 security allows them to plan for next season with stability, though questions remain about Puel’s long-term project after a turbulent year.
For Saint-Étienne, the defeat is a crushing setback. Missing out on promotion means another year of reduced revenue, further player sales, and a difficult climb back to the top. The club’s supporters, among the most passionate in France, will look for answers as the team regroups for another Ligue 2 campaign.
The match itself was a microcosm of modern football’s reliance on VAR, with two pivotal decisions directly influencing the scoreline. Cardona’s disallowed goal and the penalty awarded to Davitashvili underscored how technology can shape high-stakes encounters. In the end, Nice’s resilience and clinical finishing proved the difference, but the thin margins could easily have swung the other way.
Based on reporting from Tuttosport.
