AS Saint-Étienne (ASSE) faces a must-win scenario in Nice this Friday evening to secure their Ligue 1 promotion. After a goalless first leg at Geoffroy-Guichard, the Greens must break their duck on the Côte d’Azur to progress in the playoffs.

Philippe Montanier will be tasked with selecting his strongest side from a squad plagued by injuries ahead of this decisive clash.

Injury cloud over the squad

Mahmoud Jaber, Paul Eymard and Chico Lamba are ruled out for the season, while Nadir El Jamali remains unfit following a knee injury. Djylian N’Guessan, absent in the first leg, is also unavailable. The return of Ben Old provides a glimmer of hope, though his availability may be limited by international duties.

Florian Tardieu, nearing the end of his contract, could make his final appearance for the club before a potential summer departure. His recent return to action adds depth to Montanier’s midfield options.

Defensive reshuffle expected

Gautier Larsonneur’s clean sheet against Nice suggests he could retain his place between the posts. The backline may see changes, with Ben Old returning to action and Joao Ferreira likely to feature on the left flank.

Elye Wahi’s suspension is lifted for the return leg, adding a fresh threat to Nice’s attack. The ASSE defense will need to stay compact to neutralize the OGCN’s forward line.

Midfield battle in focus

Luan Gadegbeku and Abdoulaye Kanté are set for another outing, forming a familiar partnership. Augustine Boakye, returning from suspension, is expected to orchestrate proceedings in midfield before his international call-up.

Attacking urgency needed

The ASSE attack has struggled for consistency, with Irvin Cardona and Zuriko Davitashvili failing to deliver decisive moments in recent matches. Lucas Stassin, deployed as a lone striker, must provide the cutting edge to break down a resilient Nice defense.

Cardona, in particular, will need to rediscover his form to ease the pressure on his teammates. Davitashvili’s creativity on the left wing could be the key to unlocking Nice’s backline.

The stakes couldn’t be higher—this eleven must deliver the goods in Nice to secure Ligue 1 football next season.

By Boureima Amadou — Reporter