The fate of Ligue 1’s final spot for the 2026-2027 season hangs in the balance as Nice and Saint-Étienne square off in the second leg of their high-stakes relegation playoff. The winner secures top-flight survival while the loser faces demotion to Ligue 2.
A tightly contested first leg ends in frustration
Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium hosted the opening clash, but neither side managed to break the deadlock. The 0-0 draw left both sets of fans yearning for more as the decisive second leg approaches at Allianz Riviera.
Empty stadium looms over the fixture
The return match will unfold in eerie silence after recent crowd trouble at Nice’s stadium forced authorities to impose a two-game ban on spectators. The penalty follows pitch invasions during the team’s final Ligue 1 fixture against Metz, compounded by a suspended point deduction for the upcoming season. While Saint-Étienne rides the promotion-relegation rollercoaster, Nice has enjoyed uninterrupted top-flight football since 2002.
Playoff regulations explained
Any deadlock after 90 minutes will trigger extra time followed by penalties if necessary. Gone are the days of away goals determining the winner—equal scores like 1-1 or 2-2 will now favor the team with the superior aggregate performance.
Where and when to catch the action
The pivotal clash kicks off at 20:45 CET, exclusively on beIN Sports 1. All eyes will be on the Côte d’Azur as these two historic clubs battle for their footballing futures.
