Nice Vs Saint-Etienne

Heading into matchday five of the 2024-25 Ligue 1 season, Saint-Etienne, buoyed by their first win of the campaign, is set to face a challenging away game against OGC Nice at the Allianz Riviera on Friday. Both teams enter the contest with contrasting starts to the season and a shared ambition to climb the league table as they look to capitalize on early momentum.

Nice, the home side, currently find themselves in 12th place with four points after four games, a record that reflects their inconsistent start to the season. On the other hand, Saint-Etienne comes into this match fresh off their first points of the campaign—a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Lille. This much-needed win has propelled them out of the bottom spot to 16th place, offering hope as they embark on their return to top-flight football after promotion from Ligue 2.

OGC Nice, under new management this season, had high hopes for a strong Ligue 1 performance following their dramatic roller-coaster campaign in 2023-24. The Eaglets finished last season in fifth place, a finish that may appear respectable, but was ultimately a disappointment given how they began. Their promising start to the previous campaign, which saw them go unbeaten for the first 13 games, positioned them as title contenders and placed them firmly in second by matchday 21.

However, things began to unravel after a crucial loss to AS Monaco on matchday 21, which sparked a five-game winless streak that saw Nice plummet from second to sixth. Despite some improvement towards the end of the season, winning four and drawing three of their final nine fixtures, their earlier form was too inconsistent to salvage a top-four finish, thus dashing their hopes for Champions League football. 

Adding to the club’s frustration was the departure of manager Francesco Farioli to Ajax at the conclusion of the season. In his place, Nice turned to Franck Haise, who had earned considerable respect for his tenure at RC Lens. Haise was tasked with reviving Nice’s ambitions, and while he has shown promise, his pre-season preparations yielded mixed results. A draw-heavy pre-season, featuring three draws, a win, and a loss from five friendly matches, hinted at inconsistency—an issue that has carried over into the early stages of this Ligue 1 campaign.

After four matches, Nice’s league form remains unstable. The Eaglets managed a solid 2-1 win over Angers and a 1-1 draw with Toulouse, but suffered disappointing defeats to Auxerre and Marseille. In their most recent match against Marseille, Nice's performance was far more encouraging despite the loss. Haise’s side dominated possession and created numerous chances but failed to convert those opportunities into goals, ultimately falling 1-0. This loss, however, highlighted a key issue for Nice: a lack of clinical finishing. Haise will undoubtedly be focused on improving their attacking efficiency as they prepare to host Saint-Etienne.

While Nice has generally been solid at the Allianz Riviera, their home form could also be seen as an area in need of improvement. Last season, they managed to win just nine of their 19 home games, a record that Haise will aim to improve. A win against Saint-Etienne would go a long way towards building momentum and alleviating some of the early pressure on the team.

Saint-Etienne’s road back to Ligue 1 has been far from straightforward. The storied French club, once a dominant force in the country's footballing history, found themselves languishing in Ligue 2 just last season. Under the guidance of new manager Olivier Dall’Oglio, the club’s fortunes dramatically changed.

When Dall’Oglio took over, Saint-Etienne were mired in mid-table, sitting 10th in the Ligue 2 standings by matchday 18. However, the experienced coach orchestrated an impressive turnaround. The Greens lost only four of their next 21 league matches, propelling themselves to a third-place finish, which earned them a spot in the promotion playoffs. Their dramatic playoff run culminated in a tense 4-3 aggregate victory, securing their place in the top flight for the 2024-25 season.

Yet, their return to Ligue 1 has been challenging. Dall’Oglio’s side suffered a harsh reintroduction to life at the top level, with defeats in each of their first three matches. Worse still, Saint-Etienne failed to score a single goal across these fixtures, with comprehensive losses to AS Monaco (3-0), Le Havre (2-0), and Brest (1-0). The team looked out of sync, with their defense under constant pressure and their attack struggling to create clear-cut chances.

However, the mood around the club shifted dramatically last weekend when they pulled off a stunning 1-0 victory over Lille. It was an unexpected result, especially given Lille’s stature and Saint-Etienne’s recent struggles. A sixth-minute strike from midfielder Mathieu Cafaro proved decisive as the Greens held on for the remainder of the match, displaying defensive resilience that had been sorely missing in their previous games.

The victory not only lifted Saint-Etienne off the bottom of the table but also gave them a much-needed confidence boost heading into this difficult away fixture against Nice. Dall’Oglio will hope that his side can build on their defensive display against Lille while finding a way to unlock Nice’s defense.

The matchup between Nice and Saint-Etienne will likely hinge on a few key individual battles and tactical decisions.

For Nice, much of their creative play runs through midfielder Khéphren Thuram. The talented Frenchman has emerged as a crucial player for the Eaglets, and his ability to dictate the tempo of matches, particularly in transition, will be vital in breaking down a Saint-Etienne side likely to sit deep and absorb pressure. Thuram’s combination play with forward Terem Moffi, who is expected to lead the line, will also be crucial as Nice looks to capitalize on Saint-Etienne’s defensive vulnerabilities.

Meanwhile, Saint-Etienne’s hopes may rest on the shoulders of Mathieu Cafaro, whose early goal against Lille provided a much-needed spark. Cafaro has shown the ability to score key goals, and his role in a potential counter-attacking system could be pivotal. Alongside Cafaro, the defensive pairing of Saïdou Sow and Mickael Nadé will need to be at their best to stifle Nice’s attacking options.

Dall’Oglio is likely to approach this match with a cautious mindset, knowing that his side will be facing a team with superior technical ability. A disciplined defensive structure, combined with quick transitions on the counter-attack, may be the best route to success for Saint-Etienne. On the other hand, Haise will demand more from his attackers, urging them to be more ruthless in front of goal, especially given Nice’s dominance in possession during their recent loss to Marseille.

Historically, matches between these two sides at the Allianz Riviera have favored Nice. The Eaglets have been particularly strong at home when facing Saint-Etienne, winning five of their last seven meetings at the venue. However, Saint-Etienne did manage to pull off a shock 1-0 victory in one of these encounters, giving them hope that they can replicate that result this time around.

Nice’s home dominance, combined with Saint-Etienne’s struggles on the road, suggests that the hosts will enter this match as clear favorites. Nevertheless, in football, momentum can shift quickly, and Saint-Etienne’s win against Lille may have provided the spark they need to turn their season around.

As both sides prepare for Friday’s clash, Nice will be keen to take advantage of Saint-Etienne’s shaky start to the season and secure a much-needed home win. Franck Haise will hope that his team’s improved performance against Marseille, despite the loss, will carry over into this game, with better execution in front of goal.

For Saint-Etienne, this match represents an opportunity to continue building on their surprise victory over Lille. Olivier Dall’Oglio’s men know they will face a formidable challenge at the Allianz Riviera, but another upset is not out of the question if they can replicate the defensive solidity they showed last weekend.

In the end, this matchup pits two teams looking to solidify their footing in Ligue 1. Nice’s superior squad depth and home advantage should see them come out on top, but Saint-Etienne will undoubtedly make life difficult for them in what could be a tightly contested affair.