News Focus
- The first leg of the Ligue 1 relegation/promotion playoff finished 0-0 at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard
- Hicham Boudaoui suffered an early head injury and was substituted in the 11th minute
- VAR intervened but denied Saint-Étienne a penalty opportunity
- The return leg takes place on Friday at the empty Allianz Riviera
- Dante returned to the Nice defence after missing the Coupe de France final
AS Saint-Étienne and OGC Nice will decide their top-flight futures in the second leg after a cagey goalless draw on Thursday. The first leg of the relegation/promotion playoff produced few clear chances at either end.
Both teams approached the match with extreme caution. They understood that one error could end their hopes of competing in Ligue 1 next season. The goalkeepers enjoyed quiet evenings. Yehvan Diouf guarded the Nice net while Gautier Larsonneur stood between the posts for Saint-Étienne. Neither keeper faced serious tests during the opening 45 minutes.
The main drama of the first half involved an injury to Hicham Boudaoui. The Nice midfielder collided accidentally with Abdoulaye Kanté in the 11th minute. He suffered a blow to his head and appeared dazed. Medical staff assisted him from the pitch. Charles Vanhoutte entered the match as his replacement.
Saint-Étienne believed they had won a penalty midway through the half. The referee reviewed Kojo Peprah Oppong’s tackle on Luan Gadegbeku via the VAR monitor. However, the official surprised the home crowd. He cancelled the initial decision and awarded a drop ball to Nice instead of a free kick.
The home side enjoyed fortune shortly after. Lucas Stassin raised his boot dangerously high to clear the ball. He made contact with Oppong inside the area. Many observers expected a penalty for Nice. The referee allowed play to continue without punishment.
The second half began slowly. Neither side created genuine pressure until after the hour mark. Saint-Étienne’s young players began to grow in confidence. They pressed forward but lacked precision in the final third. Most of their attempts came from long distance. Diouf saved these efforts comfortably.
The match drifted towards its conclusion without excitement. Both teams saved their energy for the decisive return fixture. They meet again on Friday at the Allianz Riviera. The venue will remain empty for the second leg.
Dante marked his return to the Nice starting eleven. The club captain had missed the recent Coupe de France final through suspension. He organised a solid defence that faced minimal danger throughout the contest.
Claude Puel made changes to his attacking personnel at half-time. He replaced Cho with Ali Abdi. The manager had selected Cho as a makeshift striker due to limited options. Elye Wahi served a suspension while Kevin Carlos had offered little threat in previous games. Cho struggled in the unfamiliar central role. He looked more comfortable in his usual position as a wing-back. The substitution failed to spark the attack into life.
Vanhoutte settled into midfield after his early introduction. He could not alter the tempo of a match that always favoured caution over creativity. The stalemate leaves everything to play for in the return leg.