Saint Etienne vs Nice 26 May 2026 Prediction

Last season, Reims lost the French Cup final, then fell in the relegation playoffs and dropped out of Ligue 1. Nice is following a similar path this year. The same scenario could repeat, as Saint-Etienne is an experienced team with a successful record in playoff ties.

Saint-Etienne’s Best Form Came in March

Philippe Montanier’s arrival as manager restored hope that Saint-Etienne could return to Ligue 1. The 61-year-old specialist started with seven wins and two draws in his first nine matches in charge. However, three defeats in the last four rounds cost the home team a direct place in the top division.

The match against Rodez (0-0, 7-6 on penalties) for the right to play in the relegation playoffs became a real test for Saint-Etienne. Montanier’s team entered the match as a clear favorite, but failed to break down an opponent that defended deep after halftime. That result does not inspire much confidence among Saint-Etienne fans before a meeting with a stronger opponent.

Nice Is Under Serious Pressure

Claude Puel’s efforts have not been enough, and Nice is close to relegation. With the new manager, the club from the French Riviera has won only two of 18 Ligue 1 matches, with seven defeats. Most of those setbacks came against top-10 opponents, but the loss to a direct rival, Auxerre (1-2), sent Nice into the relegation playoffs.

Nice also missed its final chance to save a difficult season, losing 1-3 to Lens in the French Cup final. To the visitors’ credit, they did not hold back in that important match and managed to compete with the favorite. Still, after that defeat, it will be difficult for Nice to produce its best performance at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.

Saint-Etienne vs Nice Predicted Lineup

Saint-Etienne (4-2-3-1): Larsonneur – Pedro, Nade, Bernauer, Old – Moueffek, Kante – Cardona, Davitashvili, Duffus – Stassin

Will not play: El Jamali, Tardieu, Lamba (all injured), Le Cardinal (doubtful)

Manager: Philippe Montanier

Nice (3-4-3): Diouf – Oppong, Ba, Mendy – Clauss, Sanson, Boudaoui, Abdi – Boudache, Cho, Diop

Will not play: Abdelmonem, Bombito, Everton (all injured), Wahi (yellow-card suspension), Abdul Samed (doubtful)

Manager: Claude Puel

Referee: Benoit Bastien

The 43-year-old referee has become stricter toward the end of the season. In five of Bastien’s last seven matches, he showed at least four yellow cards. He also awards penalties fairly often.

• Officiated 22 domestic matches in the 2025/26 season
• Averaged 3.3 yellow cards and 23.9 fouls per game
• Showed 4 red cards (14%)
• Awarded 9 penalties (36%)

It Is Difficult to Pick a Clear Favorite

Saint-Etienne has one important advantage: unlike its opponent, the team had 11 days to prepare for this match. The home side also has playoff experience, having beaten Metz in 2024 (2-1, 2-2). However, Nice has a clear head-to-head advantage, with five straight wins over Saint-Etienne, including a 2-1 cup victory in December. That is why the first leg of this tie looks evenly matched.

Saint-Etienne vs Nice Prediction: Nice Double Chance at 1.70

• Main prediction: Nice will certainly find it difficult to show its best soccer after a demanding French Cup final. However, late in the season, Nice managed to compete with several strong Ligue 1 teams: Lille (0-0), Marseille (1-1), and Lens in the league (1-1). Saint-Etienne, meanwhile, started dropping points at a key stage, including three straight defeats and a 0-2 loss to Bastia, one of Ligue 2’s weakest teams. If Rodez, the fifth-place team in the second division, was able to cause Saint-Etienne problems, Nice should be capable of getting a solid result at Geoffroy-Guichard. The recommended bet is Nice double chance at 1.70.
• Total goals prediction: Head-to-head meetings between these teams often produce goals. In nine of the last 10 matches between Saint-Etienne and Nice, there were at least three goals. Neither team usually sits deep for long periods, and this matchup should not be an exception. The recommended bet is over 2.5 goals at 1.70.
• Correct score prediction: Saint-Etienne has scored at least two goals in five of its last seven home matches. Nice has also scored at least twice against Saint-Etienne in each of the last five head-to-head meetings. A higher-risk option is correct score 2-2 at 12.00.