Nice 4-1 Saint-Étienne — Match Report

Nice secured their Ligue 1 status with a commanding 4-1 victory over Saint-Étienne in the relegation playoff second leg at the Allianz Riviera on 29 May 2026. The tie was level at 0-0 after the first leg in Saint-Étienne three days earlier, so everything was at stake on the Côte d’Azur. A second-half flurry — capped by an Elye Wahi brace in the final three minutes — settled the matter emphatically, sending the visitors down to Ligue 2.

How the goals went in

The first half was goalless and tightly contested, with neither side able to force a decisive opening. Nice’s half-time changes reset the contest. The breakthrough arrived on 62 minutes when J. Clauss put Nice ahead, giving the hosts the platform they needed in a winner-takes-all tie.

Saint-Étienne responded almost immediately and drew level through a penalty converted by Z. Davitashvili on 79 minutes, briefly throwing the tie wide open and silencing the home supporters. The momentum appeared to be shifting toward the visitors.

But Nice refused to be rattled. Two minutes later, K. Boudache — introduced as a half-time substitute — restored the lead on 81 minutes, a goal made all the more significant given he had only been on the pitch since the interval. At that point Nice led 2-1 on the night and 2-1 on aggregate.

From there, Elye Wahi put the result beyond doubt. He struck on 87 minutes to make it 3-1 and, deep into stoppage time at 90 minutes, completed his brace to seal a 4-1 scoreline. Wahi was then cautioned on 88 minutes — a booking that sat sandwiched between his two goals — but it did nothing to diminish his impact on the night. Referee Benoît Bastien brought proceedings to a close with Nice through on a 4-1 aggregate.

Tactical Story

The first half suggested a closely matched contest: the first leg had ended goalless in Saint-Étienne and the opening 45 minutes at the Allianz Riviera did little to alter that picture. Nice’s manager clearly identified the need for a change, making two substitutions at the interval — S. Diop replacing M. Bard and K. Boudache coming on for M. Cho. Saint-Étienne also freshened up, introducing M. Nade for J. Le Cardinal at the break.

The changes proved decisive for Nice. The hosts began the second half with more directness, and Clauss’s 62nd-minute goal was a direct product of that renewed energy. Saint-Étienne responded tactically with three further substitutions around the hour mark — F. Tardieu and J. Ferreira both entering at 63 minutes, followed by A. Moueffek at 69 — and Davitashvili’s penalty at 79 minutes briefly made it a contest again.

Nice’s response was swift and clinical. Dante received a yellow card at 46 minutes and was later withdrawn at 78 minutes for J. Bah. S. Abdul Samed came on for M. Sanson at 86 minutes as Nice managed the closing stages. The platform Boudache and Wahi built from the 81st minute onward left Saint-Étienne with no route back. No pre-match prediction was provided for this fixture, so no comparison against a forecast is made here.

Standout Players

Elye Wahi was the defining figure of the closing stages. His goals at 87 and 90 minutes — either side of a yellow card at 88 — transformed a nervy 2-1 lead into an unambiguous 4-1 victory. In a match where Saint-Étienne had briefly levelled and threatened to drag the tie into further uncertainty, Wahi’s composure was decisive.

K. Boudache also deserves credit. Introduced at half-time with the tie still level on aggregate, he scored just 36 minutes after coming on to restore Nice’s lead at a critical moment. His goal proved the turning point: from 2-1, Saint-Étienne never recovered.

J. Clauss opened the scoring and set the tone for the second half, while from a Saint-Étienne perspective, Z. Davitashvili’s penalty gave the visitors brief hope but ultimately could not prevent their relegation.

What it means

This result confirms Nice’s Ligue 1 status for the 2026-27 season. Having finished in the playoff position in the regular season, they faced what amounted to a two-legged survival decider. A goalless draw in the first leg at Saint-Étienne left everything to play for, but a dominant second-half display at home — the aggregate score ending 4-1 — meant there was no doubt about the outcome. Nice will remain among French football’s top flight.

For Saint-Étienne, the result means relegation to Ligue 2. Having drawn the first leg 0-0 and come close to levelling the second at 1-1 through Davitashvili’s penalty, the scale of the eventual defeat — three goals conceded in the final nine minutes — made the margin hard to absorb. They will need to regroup and mount a promotion campaign from the second division next season.

Our Pre-Match Preview

Ahead of this second leg, our preview assessed the tactical picture, the key players likely to influence the tie, and what both clubs needed from the Allianz Riviera showdown. You can read the full preview here: https://kickoffreport.com/nice-saint-etienne-ligue-1-playoff-leg-2-2026/

FAQ

What was the final score of Nice vs Saint-Étienne?
Nice won 4-1, with goals from J. Clauss (62’), K. Boudache (81’), and E. Wahi (87’, 90’). Saint-Étienne’s goal came from Z. Davitashvili via penalty (79’). The aggregate score was also 4-1 after the first leg ended 0-0.

Who scored for the winning team?
J. Clauss opened the scoring in the 62nd minute, K. Boudache added a second on 81 minutes, and Elye Wahi completed the win with goals at 87 and 90 minutes.

Where was the match played?
The match was played at the Allianz Riviera in Nice, France. No official attendance figure was published in the available match data.

What does this result mean for Nice?
Nice retain their Ligue 1 status for the 2026-27 season. The 4-1 aggregate victory over Saint-Étienne in the relegation playoff secured their place in the top flight.

What does this result mean for Saint-Étienne?
Saint-Étienne are relegated to Ligue 2. Despite holding Nice to a goalless draw in the first leg, they conceded four goals in the second leg and could not prevent the drop from the top division.