The ASSE faces a make-or-break moment this Friday as they travel to Nice for the decisive second leg of the Ligue 1 promotion playoffs. Following a goalless draw in the first leg at Geoffroy-Guichard, Philippe Montanier’s side must secure a victory on the Côte d’Azur to punch their ticket to France’s top flight.
Injury setbacks shape Montanier’s preparations
Saint-Étienne’s medical room remains a concern ahead of the high-stakes encounter. Mahmoud Jaber, Paul Eymard, and Chico Lamba are ruled out for the season, while Nadir El Jamali continues his recovery from a knee injury, leaving him unfit to feature. Djylian N’Guessan, sidelined for the first leg, also remains unavailable.
Florian Tardieu nears the end of his Saint-Étienne journey. The veteran midfielder, who has been absent for nearly three months, could make his final appearance in green this evening. With his contract expiring, his future beyond the summer seems increasingly clear.
A silver lining arrives with Ben Old’s return to the squad. The New Zealander, recovering from injury, is now fit and may feature in what could be his last competitive match for the club before joining the national team for the World Cup.
Defensive reshuffle on the cards
Gautier Larsonneur delivered another clean sheet against Nice, and the goalkeeper will be aiming to replicate that performance in Nice. The backline, which held strong in the first leg, faces a new challenge with Elye Wahi’s return from suspension—a player who could exploit any gaps in Saint-Étienne’s defense.
Philippe Montanier is expected to stick with the Le Cardinal-Bernauer central defensive partnership. The uncertainty lies on the flanks, where Ben Old’s return complicates the selection. After Dennis Appiah’s muscular issue in the first leg, Joao Ferreira filled in, prompting a tactical shift with Kévin Pédro moving to the left. Now, with Old potentially starting on the left, Pédro is likely to slot into the right-back position.
Midfield and attack under scrutiny
The midfield duo of Luan Gadegbeku and Abdoulaye Kanté are set to continue their partnership for the fourth consecutive match, offering stability and creativity. Augustine Boakye, back from suspension, will likely orchestrate play from the No. 10 role before departing for international duty with Ghana.
Saint-Étienne’s attack has struggled for creativity in recent weeks. Irvin Cardona, once a match-winner, has found goals elusive, and his form will be crucial against Nice’s resilient defense. Zuriko Davitashvili, despite his flair, has lacked sharpness, while Lucas Stassin will lead the line, tasked with breaking the deadlock.
The stakes could not be higher—this must-win clash presents the final opportunity to secure Ligue 1 football for Saint-Étienne this season.
