Nice vs Saint-Étienne: Fight for Ligue 1 Survival

OGC Nice face Saint-Étienne in their 52nd and final Ligue 1 match of the 2023-24 season on Friday at 20:45, with survival at stake. The match is a relegation playoff after a season that began with Champions League qualifiers. OGC Nice have been in Ligue 1 continuously since 2002. Their campaign started in August with qualifying rounds for the Champions League. The club now sits in the relegation zone, making the Friday fixture a must‑win to avoid dropping to Ligue 2. A loss would send Nice to the final‑chance playoff in May. Coach Claude Puel leads the side and hopes to halt the decline. Puel's squad must secure three points to stay in the top flight. Saint-Étienne, also fighting for survival, will look to capitalize on Nice's pressure. The encounter marks the last opportunity for both clubs to secure Ligue 1 status before the season ends. The outcome on Friday will determine whether Nice remains in Ligue 1 or joins the relegation playoff. It sets the tone for the final weeks of the campaign.