With Nantes and Metz already confirmed for Ligue 2, the suspense centered on which team would finish 16th and face Saint-Étienne in the playoff. Nice, sitting in that position before the final matchday, failed to escape it.

The Aiglons couldn’t overcome Metz at home (0-0), in a lackluster match where they even risked defeat had it not been for goalkeeper Yéhvann Diouf’s heroics. The disappointment sparked pitch invasions by Nice supporters at the Allianz Riviera.

Nice’s survival battle awaits

Nice will now face Saint-Étienne in a high-stakes playoff, with the first leg at Geoffroy-Guichard and the return at the Allianz Riviera. The playoff comes just days after the Coupe de France final against Lens at the Stade de France on May 22.

Sinayoko shines as Auxerre and Le Havre secure Ligue 1 status

Before the final matchday, Nice held 31 points, tied with Auxerre in 15th place and just one point ahead of Le Havre in 14th. But their rivals rose to the occasion. Auxerre clinched a 2-0 victory at Lille, with Lassine Sinayoko scoring twice (32nd and 90th minutes) to secure his 11th and 12th Ligue 1 goals of the season. Meanwhile, Le Havre triumphed 2-0 away to Lorient, with defender Abdoulaye Faye scoring an own goal (33rd minute) and Issa Soumaré adding a second (62nd minute). Lorient’s Bamba Dieng missed a penalty (45th+5).