00:00Good evening, everyone. Welcome to a tense Friday night at the Allianz Riviera, where the states
00:06couldn't be higher. Nice, fighting desperately to cling on to their top flight status, host Saint
00:12Etienne in the decisive second leg of this Ligue 1 promotion relegation playoff. After a cagey,
00:18goalless first leg on Tuesday, the tie remains perfectly balanced, but the home advantage now
00:23swings firmly towards Les Eglons. Nice have been far from convincing at home this season.
00:30Despite staying unbeaten in their last three Ligue 1 matches on this pitch, they've struggled to turn
00:35draws into victories here in 2026. Yet history offers them hope, they've beaten Saint Etienne in
00:42their last three home meetings across all competitions, including a hard-fought 2-1
00:46Coupe de France victory back in December. However, the wounds from last week's Coupe de France final
00:52defeat to Lens, 3-1, are still fresh. Fans will remember how Reims suffered a similar fate
00:59last season, winning the cup but then slipping through the relegation trapdoor.
01:04Nice have also developed a worrying habit of sterile football, with Friday's first leg 0-0
01:09being their fifth goalless draw of 2026 and their 18th match this season where they failed
01:14to find the net. For Saint Etienne, this is the moment of destiny. After one painful season
01:21in Ligue 2, they stand just 90 minutes away from a swift return to the big stage.
01:26But to achieve it, Philippe Montanier's side must conquer a major hurdle, winning away from
01:31home. They haven't managed an away victory in the second tier since February, losing their
01:36last two on the road and showing blunt attacking form, failing to score more than once in any
01:41of their previous four outings. The numbers make this one incredibly difficult to call.
01:47Nice are winless in their last seven home games at the Allianz Riviera, while Saint Etienne
01:52have only triumphed in two of their last ten away fixtures. Both sides arrive carrying defensive
01:58resilience but serious attacking doubts.
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