Saint Etienne vs Nice Prediction 26 May 2026
🔊 Can Nice lay the groundwork for Ligue 1 survival when they visit Saint-Étienne? On Tuesday, these two sides face off in the first leg of their promotion/relegation playoff, battling for a place in Ligue 1 next season. The hosts come into this clash as the bookmakers’ favourites, but will they be able to overcome a team with recent top-flight experience? Check out our in-depth analysis and prediction for this crucial encounter below.
Head-to-Head
📊 Recent head-to-head history between Saint-Étienne and Nice favours Les Aiglons, who have come out on top in each of their last five encounters. The sides last met in December in the Coupe de France, where Nice secured a 2-1 home victory.
H2H Stats Matches and Previous Teams Results
Saint Etienne Team Overview
🟢 Saint-Étienne have enjoyed an impressive campaign in Ligue 2, spending much of the season among the frontrunners and even topping the table at one stage. However, a late slump saw Les Verts suffer three defeats in their final four matches-a run that seriously dented their promotion hopes. Ultimately, those setbacks cost Philippe Montanier’s side automatic promotion, as they finished just two points shy of second place.
⚪ Those late losses and a third-place finish could have shattered Saint-Étienne’s confidence, but the coaching staff managed to rally the squad. In the end, Montanier’s men battled through a gruelling play-off semi-final against Rodez, holding their nerve to win 7-6 on penalties after a goalless draw in regular time.
Match Results: Saint Etienne
Nice Team Overview
⚫ The current situation at Nice is a direct result of the club’s management and a series of poor decisions-most notably, their complete inaction during the team’s crisis back in the first half of this Ligue 1 campaign. A delayed managerial change, lack of support for the players after clashes with the fans, and a misguided transfer strategy have all contributed to the club’s downfall. Once competing in the Europa League, Nice are now fighting for survival in France’s top flight.
🔴 It takes a special kind of mismanagement to dismantle a team in just one year. Let’s not forget, the “Eaglets” finished 16th in the league, with a goal difference of -23. Most recently, Claude Puel’s men reached the Coupe de France final against Lens, but predictably fell short, losing 1-3. That match took a lot out of them-and now, they face an even bigger challenge just to stay up.
Match Results: Nice
Latest news
Saint Etienne
❌ Among Saint-Étienne’s potential absentees ahead of their clash with Nice, midfielder Lamine Gadegbeku and defender Julien Le Cardinal are worth highlighting. Both featured in the recent match against Rodez but picked up injuries during that game. It remains unclear whether they will recover in time, but if they do, their presence would certainly be a boost for the team.
Nice
❗ The Disciplinary Committee of the French Professional Football League (LFP) has handed down sanctions to Nice, ordering them to play two home matches behind closed doors and imposing a suspended spectator ban for an additional game. This follows incidents that occurred late in their Ligue 1 season finale against Metz. As a result, the decisive play-off second leg against Saint-Étienne, which will determine who secures a spot in next season’s top flight, will take place at the Allianz Riviera with no fans in attendance.
🟨 Yellow Card Prediction
The upcoming match will be officiated by Benoît Bastien, who averages 3.76 yellow cards per game over his last 100 fixtures, with around 25 fouls per match. This season, Saint-Étienne are picking up an average of 1.7 yellow cards per game, while Nice are slightly higher at 2.0. Both sides have kept their bookings relatively low so far, so a total under 4.5 yellow cards at odds of 1.62* looks like a well-founded prediction.
⚽️ Goals Prediction
Saint-Étienne are averaging 1.9 goals per match across all competitions this season, while Nice are at just 1.1. However, their head-to-head clashes have been far more prolific: the hosts average 3.1 goals per game, with the visitors at 2.8. Given these numbers, backing over 2.5 total goals at 1.69* appears to be a reasonable prediction.
🚩 Corners Prediction
This campaign, Saint-Étienne take an average of 5.0 corners per match, while Nice are just ahead with 5.3. Both clubs consistently win set pieces from the corner flag and their stats are slightly above the French league average, so a bet on over 9.5 total corners at odds of 1.72* is worth considering.
*Odds are approximate and may vary across different bookmakers
Editor’s Prediction
On paper, Nice may have the edge in terms of individual quality, but there are plenty of question marks hanging over the squad right now. It feels as though a real disconnect exists between the players and the coaching staff, and that’s not something you can fix overnight. Saint-Étienne, on the other hand, are in great shape as a group-their team spirit is strong, and their dramatic penalty shootout win over Rodez has only boosted morale further. Backed by their home fans, Les Verts are primed to deliver a strong performance, so we’re backing a home win. Predicted scoreline: 2-1.
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Betting Tips: Saint Etienne - Nice
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Comparison of Teams Stats
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