The opening leg of the Ligue 1 promotion/relegation playoff delivered a truly fitting goalless draw. AS Saint-Étienne, who finished third in Ligue 2 this season, and OGC Nice, battling to retain their Ligue 1 status after placing sixteenth, ended their encounter at Geoffroy-Guichard without finding the net.

Much of the evening’s excitement was generated off the pitch, as the fervent Saint-Étienne faithful transformed the “Cauldron” into an electrifying atmosphere, fueled by hopes of their beloved “Verts” returning to the top flight. Regrettably, the action on the field proved less captivating: a mere eleven shots were registered in total, with neither side managing to hit the target, despite promising attempts from Clauss in the 25th minute, Davitashvili in the 58th, and Boakye around the 60-minute mark.

This stalemate ultimately benefits neither squad, particularly disappointing for Saint-Étienne, who failed to leverage their passionate home crowd to gain a psychological edge over a somewhat vulnerable Nice side, still reeling from their Coupe de France final defeat last Saturday. Further hampered by the early departure of Bouaddi, who suffered a head injury, the visiting team struggled to create significant offensive plays.

The decisive second leg is now set for Friday, May 29, at the Allianz Riviera. The tension will undoubtedly build until the final whistle, as we await to see if Saint-Étienne will secure their spot alongside already-promoted Troyes and Le Mans in Ligue 1, or if Nice will successfully defend their place among France’s football elite.