In a dramatic turnaround from the dull first leg, Nice delivered a commanding performance at the Allianz Riviera on Friday evening, defeating AS Saint-Étienne 3-1 to secure their place in next season’s Ligue 1. The Niçois had been held to a goalless draw in the away leg three days earlier, a match that failed to produce a single shot on target.

The second leg was a far cry from the first, with both teams going all out for a decisive result. Nice took the lead through defender Zuriko Davitashvili, who converted a penalty just before the hour mark. The Gones responded with a late equalizer, but it was a young Kail Boudache who put the Niçois back in front in the 81st minute, just two minutes after his introduction. The game was sealed in the closing stages by a brace from Elye Wahi, who struck in the 87th and 90+2nd minutes to send the home crowd into raptures.

With this victory, Nice avoided the drop and will compete in Ligue 1 for the 25th consecutive season. The club finished 16th in the regular campaign, safely above the relegation zone alongside Metz and Nantes. Meanwhile, Saint-Étienne, relegated at the end of the 2024-25 season, will now face a year in the second tier.

Key moments from the match

• Zuriko Davitashvili scores from the penalty spot (58th minute).
• Kail Boudache strikes a minute into his debut to restore Nice’s lead (81st minute).
• Elye Wahi doubles the lead in stoppage time (87th and 90+2nd minutes).