Ligue 1 Play Out 2025-2026: Nice-St. Etienne, the likely formations

Friday night at 8:45 p.m., the Allianz Riviera hosts the match between Nice-St. Etienne, the return match of the salvation/promotion playoff for Ligue 1. After the 0-0 draw in the first leg, the two sides will play for everything in these last ninety minutes, where the hosts want to stay in the top tier after a complicated season, while the guests want to get back among the big boys after a year in the lower division.

Nice will try to take advantage of the home factor to unlock an attack that has appeared too sterile in the last month, while the guests will try to pull off a real outside feat by focusing on defensive solidity and restarts in the open field. In the event of a further draw at the end of regulation time, overtime and possibly penalty kicks will decide the verdict.

Puel opts for a more compact and balanced team in the middle of the field. In front of Diouf, the three-man defensive line will consist of Mendy, Bah and Peprah. In midfield, the outside lanes will be manned by Clauss and Bard, while Sanson and Vahoutte will have the task of managing the maneuver. In the three-quarter, the flair of Cho and Diop will serve to trigger the lone forward Wahi.

Montanier will respond instead with a more offensive set-up. Between the posts will be Larsonneur, protected by a four-man line with Pedro and Appiah on the flanks, flanked by central midfielders Le Cardinal and Bernauer. In the midfield will act Kanté and Gadegbeku to provide balance to the department, while the only advanced reference Stassin will be supported by the trio of trequartisti formed by Duffus, Boakye and Davitashvili.

Probable formations

Nice (3-4-2-1): Diouf; Mendy, Bah, Peprah; Clauss, Sanson, Vahoutte, Bard; Cho, Diop; Wahi. All. Puel.

St. Etienne (4-2-3-1): Larsonneur; Pedro, Le Cardinal, Bernauer, Appiah; Kante, Gadegbeku; Duffus, Boakye, Davitashvili; Stassin. All. Montanier.