The final composition of the Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 tiers for the 2026-2027 season is nearly settled. This Friday, May 29, 2026, Nice and Saint-Étienne meet for a final, high-stakes confrontation to decide who takes the last available seat in the top flight. While the victor will celebrate their place among the elite, the defeated side will be relegated to the second division.
The question of which team will become the 18th club in Ligue 1 for the upcoming season dominates the French football landscape. Nice and Saint-Étienne are currently locked in a tense two-legged playoff. This return match on Friday evening is the moment of truth for both organizations.
A scoreless first leg
The opening encounter took place at Geoffroy-Guichard, but the match failed to ignite. Both sets of fans witnessed a locked-down 0-0 draw, characterized by a lack of clear scoring opportunities. With the scoreboard still blank, the pressure shifts entirely to the Mediterranean coast for this final showdown.
An empty Allianz Riviera
This critical second leg will be played in a ghost-like atmosphere, as the Allianz Riviera will be closed to the public. Following a pitch invasion by supporters during the final Ligue 1 match against Metz, the home side received a heavy penalty. These sanctions include two matches behind closed doors and a suspended one-point deduction for the 2026-2027 campaign.
Consequently, the battle against Saint-Étienne will proceed without any fans in the stands. For the Verts, the last few years have been a rollercoaster of promotions and relegations (down in 2022, back in 2024, and down again in 2025). In contrast, Nice has maintained a consistent presence in the top tier for over two decades, with their last season in the second division dating back to 2001-2002.
Understanding the playoff regulations
The rules for this encounter are straightforward. If the teams remain tied at the end of regulation time, they will play 30 minutes of extra time. Should the deadlock persist, a penalty shootout will determine the winner. It is important to note that the away goals rule is no longer in effect; a scoreline of 1-1 or 2-2 will not grant an advantage to Saint-Étienne as it might have in previous years.
Match schedule and broadcast
The kick-off for this decisive playoff return leg is scheduled for 8:45 PM. Football fans can follow the entire match live on beIN Sports 1.
More Stories
Côte d’Ivoire backs Morocco’s autonomy plan for western Sahara at un seminar
Monza secures Serie A return after playoff finals draw
Nice secures top-flight status with victory over Saint-Etienne in playoff return leg