Prediction: Nice vs St. Etienne – Betting Tips, Team News, Key Facts

Verdict: Under 2.5 goals

Best Odds: 8/11

Bookmaker: Dachbet

With one final chance to keep hold of their Ligue 1 status on Friday night, Nice will welcome St. Etienne to the Allianz Riviera.

Nice

Starting with the hosts, while some in Nice’s camp might have opened up the 2025/26 campaign with their sights firmly fixed on mounting a genuine European charge, the Eagles have endured a record-breaking rut. Rightfully coming under a huge amount of scrutiny and at the heart of an infamous Ligue 1 relegation scrap, Claude Puel’s side have one final chance to keep hold of their top-flight status and avoid what would be an infamous drop. Eventually forced to settle for a first-leg 0-0 stalemate when they travelled to St. Etienne earlier in the week, Nice have now mustered just a sole win from any of their previous 11 consecutive appearances across all competitions. Likewise, along with suffering major Coupe de France heartbreak at the hands of Lens on May 22nd, Friday’s hosts have also failed to claim a single win in front of their own supporters since the start of February.

Nice Team News

Lasting just 11 minutes away at St. Etienne last week before limping off, Nice will be unable to call upon Algerian starlet Hicham Boudaoui here. Likewise, only mustering eight Ligue 1 appearances this season, one-time Tottenham midfielder Tanguy Ndombele will not play any part on Friday night.

However, serving a first-leg suspension on Tuesday night, Eintracht Frankfurt loanee Eye Wahi could be handed a full recall. Now drawing a line under his third campaign at the Allianz Riviera, ex-Aston Villa misfit Morgan Sanson will start in the middle of the park.

St. Etienne

As for the visitors, missing out on the chance to claim a first-leg advantage at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard earlier in the week, St. Etienne will now have to go about things the hard way. While the Greens might travel to Nice on Friday night just 90 minutes away from booking an iconic Ligue 1 return and claiming a heavyweight domestic scalp, Philippe Montainer’s side have failed to find any kind of stability on recent times. Despite signing off their regular-season adventure with a thumping 5-0 romp at home against Amies on May 5th, that is the only victory across any format they have mustered from their last six appearances within 90 minutes. It should also be highlighted, pencilled in as a real underdog contender this weekend, St. Etienne have lost their previous three consecutive trips to the Allianz Riviera by an aggregate score of 14-3.

St. Etienne Team News

All still dealing with respective injury issues, St. Etienne will travel to the Allianz Riviera on Friday night without the likes of Nadir El Jamali, Paul Eymard, Chico Lamba and Israel international Mahmoud Jaber. Likewise, missing out on Tuesday night with a reported thigh issue, New Zealand youngster Benjamin Old is not expected to play any part.

Registering 19 direct goal contributions in his 29 Ligue 2 appearances this season (14 goals, five assists), former Bordeaux striker Zuriko Davitashvili will shoulder plenty of St. Etienne’s attacking threat. Completing a January switch from Brest, Julien Le Cardinal will start at the heart of Montainer’s defence.

Nice vs St. Etienne Key Factors to Consider

• When Nice and St. Etienne met for their first-leg showdown earlier in the week, Friday’s opponents played out a nail-biting 0-0 stalemate at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
• Nice have won each of their last three straight meetings against St. Etienne at the Allianz Riviera by an aggregate score of 14-3.
• The Eagles have failed to register a single victory in front of their own supporters since the start of February.
• St. Eteinne have registered just a sole win from any of their previous six appearances across all competitions within 90 minutes.
• The Greens have suffered back-to-back defeats on their travels for the first time this calendar year.

Conclusion

With all eyes falling on the Allianz Riveria this weekend, Nice have one final opportunity to keep hold of their Ligue 1 status and avoid what would be an infamous top-flight relegation. Watching Friday’s opponents play out an incredibly nervy 0-0 stalemate when they met for their first-leg showdown earlier in the week, don’t be surprised to see chances once again come at a premium. It should also be noted, Nice have registered just a pair of strikes in almost 500 minutes of action.

Verdict: Under 2.5 goals

Best Odds: 8/11

Bookmaker: Dachbet