Nice faces Saint-Étienne in Ligue 1 relegation playoff after final day drama
After an intense final day of Ligue 1 action, Nice finished 16th and must now contest a two-legged playoff against Saint-Étienne on May 26 and 29. Meanwhile, Le Havre secured their top-flight status with a 2-0 win at Lorient, while Auxerre’s 2-0 triumph over Lille confirmed their survival.
With Nantes and Metz already confirmed as Ligue 2-bound, the remaining question was which club would finish 16th to face the third-placed team from the lower division. Nice, sitting in that precarious position before the final matchday, failed to secure the crucial victory they needed at home against Metz, settling for a 0-0 draw that left their fate in the balance.
Playoff showdown awaits Nice
Unable to break down Metz, Nice saw their hopes of automatic survival slip away. The match, devoid of clear chances, saw Nice goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf produce a series of crucial saves to prevent a home defeat. However, the frustration of the Aiglons’ fanbase boiled over, with supporters storming the Allianz Riviera pitch at full-time. Nice will now face Saint-Étienne in a high-stakes playoff, with the first leg at Geoffroy-Guichard on May 26 and the return at the Allianz Riviera on May 29. The playoff winner will earn a spot in next season’s Ligue 1.
Sinayoko delivers for Auxerre
While Nice stumbled, Auxerre and Le Havre delivered when it mattered most. The Burgundy side stunned Lille with a 2-0 victory, thanks in large part to a double from Lassine Sinayoko, who now has 12 Ligue 1 goals for the season. His strikes in the 32nd and 90th minutes sealed a remarkable win that secured Auxerre’s top-flight survival. Meanwhile, Le Havre’s 2-0 win at Lorient, aided by an own goal from Lorient’s Abdoulaye Faye and a strike from Issa Soumaré, guaranteed their Ligue 1 status with a game to spare.
