The opening leg of the Ligue 1 playoff delivered a truly goalless affair. At the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium, AS Saint-Étienne, who finished third in Ligue 2 this season, and OGC Nice, currently 16th in Ligue 1, played out a stalemate with neither side finding the back of the net.

The most vibrant moments of the evening were arguably found in the stands, where the fervent Saint-Étienne faithful, known as the ‘chaudron stéphanois,’ created an electrifying atmosphere, passionately yearning for their beloved ‘Verts’ to return to the top flight. On the pitch, however, the action was notably subdued. A mere 11 shots were recorded in total, with not a single one hitting the target from either team, despite promising opportunities falling to Clauss (25th minute), Davitashvili (58th minute), and Boakye (60th minute).

This goalless draw ultimately serves neither team particularly well. Saint-Étienne, in particular, failed to capitalize on the home advantage and the immense support of their crowd to gain a crucial psychological edge over a Nice side that appeared somewhat vulnerable, especially after their recent defeat in the Coupe de France final. Furthermore, Nice was hampered early on by the departure of Bouaddi, who sustained a head injury, limiting their attacking impetus.

Consequently, the fate of both clubs will be decided in the highly anticipated return leg at the Allianz Riviera this Friday, May 29th. The suspense will linger right until the final whistle, determining whether Saint-Étienne will join Troyes and Le Mans in securing direct promotion to Ligue 1, or if Nice will successfully defend their place among the elite teams.