Against the odds. The Aiglons step onto the pitch tonight with a weighty sense of adversity. Their survival in Ligue 1 hinges on these two playoff legs, and they won’t have their supporters behind them—not in the first leg, nor in the second.

The Nice side is denied the backing of their fans both in Saint-Étienne this Tuesday and at the Allianz Riviera on Friday, where the stadium will be closed to spectators. A surreal atmosphere awaits for this high-stakes showdown.

More setbacks…

The Gym is grappling with a host of obstacles. The suspension of Elye Wahi for the first leg, a shortened recovery period after the Coupe de France final, and the international call-ups disrupting preparations. Wahi, Diouf, and Mendy will remain unavailable until Friday.

For the rest of the squad, uncertainty looms large. The season has been relentless, and the opponent is no exception. AS Saint-Étienne, now bolstered for Ligue 1, reinforced their ranks last summer while Nice, once poised for Champions League qualifying, has seen its prospects diminish.

A season of struggle

Since August 6th, Nice has endured 26 defeats in 50 matches. A grueling journey that could yet find redemption if the Aiglons channel the determination they displayed against Lens last Friday and rectify their individual errors. Optimism persists among the ranks, driven by the desire to secure the future of the club’s 200 employees and allow Dante to retire with the Gym still in Ligue 1.