The opening leg of the Ligue 1 promotion/relegation playoff concluded with a truly fitting goalless draw. At their home ground, Geoffroy-Guichard, AS Saint-Étienne, who finished third in Ligue 2 this season, and OGC Nice, the 16th-placed team from Ligue 1, failed to break the deadlock in a tightly contested encounter.

Much of the evening’s excitement was generated off the pitch, as the fervent Saint-Étienne faithful transformed their stadium into a boiling cauldron, desperate to witness their beloved ‘Verts’ return to the top flight. However, the action on the field proved less captivating. A meager 11 shots were registered between both teams, with a striking zero attempts on target throughout the match. Despite promising moments from Clauss (25th minute), Davitashvili (58th minute), and Boakye (60th minute), neither side could find the crucial breakthrough.

This stalemate ultimately serves neither team particularly well. Saint-Étienne, in particular, will lament their inability to leverage the immense support of their home crowd to gain a psychological edge over a vulnerable Nice side. The visitors had endured a difficult week, having been defeated in the Coupe de France final just last Saturday, and were further hampered early on by the forced exit of Bouaddi due to a head injury. Despite these setbacks, Nice struggled to offer more in terms of offensive threat.

Consequently, all eyes now turn to the return fixture, scheduled for Friday, May 29th, at the Allianz Riviera. The suspense is guaranteed to persist until the final whistle, as both clubs vie for their Ligue 1 fate. The outcome will determine whether Saint-Étienne can join Troyes and Le Mans in securing direct promotion to Ligue 1, or if Nice will successfully defend their place among France’s football elite.