Form and Line-up Nice
Despite having a clear advantage over their opponents in terms of squad potential, Nice had no intention of opening up away to Saint-Etienne. Over 90 minutes, the visitors produced only 0.24 xG and had just four shots, none of them on target. Perhaps the key creative loss for the team was Boudaoui's early substitution — he was injured and went to the bench as early as the 11th minute. The midfielder will most likely return to action on Friday, but he will be far from peak form.
Key Numbers for Nice:
Nice have won only one of their last 10 matches.
Since the start of April, Nice have scored more than one goal only once in 10 games across all competitions.
Nice finished the Ligue 1 season with the worst home chance conversion record — 19 actual goals from 27.35 xG.
Probable Nice line-up: Yehvann Diouf — Melvin Bard, Kojo Peprah Oppong, Juma Bah, Antoine Mendy — Hicham Boudaoui, Morgan Sanson — Sofiane Diop, Tiago Gouveia, Jonathan Clauss — Mohamed-Ali Cho
Absentees: Mohamed Abdelmonem, Moise Bombito, Everton Pereira da Silva (all injured)
Form and Line-up Saint-Etienne
As in the opening play-off tie against Rodez (1:0 after a penalty), Saint-Etienne avoided desperate bursts forward from deep. Cardona and Davitashvili created reasonably well on the flanks, but that translated into only 0.11 xG — extremely little for the home team. Away from home, the visitors will have even fewer attacking options — without home support, the Greens have repeatedly struggled on opposition grounds this season.
Key Numbers for Saint-Etienne:
Saint-Etienne have scored only two goals in their last four away matches.
Saint-Etienne have not won away to Nice since January 2021.
Saint-Etienne have kept clean sheets five times in their last 10 matches.
Probable Saint-Etienne line-up: Gautier Larsonneur — Dennis Appiah, Maxime Bernauer, Julien Le Cardinal, Kevin Pedro — Luan Gadegbeku, Abdoulaye Kante — Zuriko Davitashvili, Augustine Boakye, Irvin Cardona — Lucas Stassin
Absentees: Nadir El Jamali, Chico Lamba, Mahmoud Jaber (all injured)
