Just ten days after securing their place in the Ligue 1 playoffs with a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Rodez, which culminated in a thrilling 7-6 penalty shootout victory, AS Saint-Étienne is now poised to challenge OGC Nice. Ahead of Tuesday’s pivotal first leg at Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne’s coach, Philippe Montanier, provided an update on his squad’s readiness. The New Zealand international left-back, Ben Old, who picked up a hamstring injury during the Rodez playoff, remains a doubt for the Tuesday fixture. He is scheduled for a final fitness assessment on Tuesday morning to determine his availability.

In a significant boost for the ‘Verts’, midfield stalwart Florian Tardieu is set to make his return. He has been sidelined since early March due to a calf injury but is now fully fit and ready for action. However, the team will miss young forward Djylian N’Guessan, who has been ruled out after sustaining a new hamstring injury.

Adding another layer of complexity, the availability of several international players for Tuesday’s first leg remains uncertain. Coach Montanier noted that discussions are ongoing regarding players either selected for or awaiting selection for the upcoming World Cup. This uncertainty specifically impacts Ben Old (New Zealand), alongside Ghanaian players Augustine Boakye and Ebenezer Annan.

Supporters can follow all the intense action of this crucial Ligue 1 playoff first leg between ASSE and OGC Nice, kicking off on Tuesday at 8:45 PM.