Nice and Saint-Étienne played out a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their Ligue 1 promotion/relegation playoff, leaving everything to settle on May 29 at Allianz Riviera. The winner will decide which club plays in Ligue 1 in the 2026-27 season.
That is why the matchup is drawing attention now: the French Football League playoff is level, the second leg is in Nice, and the stakes are immediate. Coverage of the decisive game begins at 2:40 PM ET, 11:40 AM PT, with beIN SPORTS carrying the live broadcast.
The first leg offered little to separate the sides. Neither team managed a shot on target, a flat attacking showing that kept the tie scoreless and turned the return fixture into a straight fight for survival or promotion. Nice are trying to preserve their place in Ligue 1, while Saint-Étienne are aiming for an immediate return to the top flight.
Nice will take the advantage of playing at home, but that edge comes with an asterisk. Their recent results have been uneven, and their attacking issues have been a concern throughout the campaign. Saint-Étienne, meanwhile, were among the strongest teams in Ligue 2, yet their away form has been inconsistent, which makes the trip to Nice a difficult final step.
Allianz Riviera now becomes the place where a season is either rescued or rewarded. After a first leg that produced no goals and no shots on target, the margin for error is gone, and the 0-0 draw has left the playoff exactly where both clubs did not want it to be: one match from a decision that will shape next season.
