Fans have seen a Ligue 1 champion this season, filled with surprising momentum and dramatic storylines. This year, Ligue 1 has newly added a relegation playoff event between two teams. Moreover, Ligue 1 delivered splendid performances to players throughout the season.
However, Ligue 1 has maintained a status of top and middle-tier clubs. At the bottom of the table, clubs struggled with their inconsistency and dropped into the relegation zone. The relegation battle between Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 clubs is about securing a place in the next season. This year, the relegation play-off features the 16th-placed Ligue 1 team and the winner of the Ligue 2 play-off semi-final. OGC Nice has achieved a successful victory against AS Saint-Étienne in the final phase.
Ligue 1 Champions: Defining Moments of the Season
Paris Saint-Germain F.C. earned its 14th French League title and its fifth consecutive victory. In this Ligue 1 season, PSG marked consistent performances as one of the leading French clubs battled for European qualification. Olympique de Marseille and Stade Rennais qualified for the UEFA Europa League at the same time. Ligue 2 featured promoted teams like Lorient, Paris, and Metz. This year, PSG has achieved two consecutive victories in both domestic and European competitions.
Ligue 1 Table Review: Final Positions and Key Takeaways
| Position | Club | Matches Played | Win | Draw | Loss | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points |
| 1 | Paris Saint-Germain F.C. | 34 | 24 | 4 | 6 | 74 | 29 | 45 | 76 |
| 2 | RC Lens | 34 | 22 | 4 | 8 | 66 | 35 | 31 | 70 |
| 3 | LOSC Lille | 34 | 18 | 7 | 9 | 52 | 37 | 15 | 61 |
| 4 | Olympique Lyonnais | 34 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 53 | 40 | 13 | 60 |
| 5 | Olympique de Marseille | 34 | 18 | 5 | 11 | 63 | 45 | 18 | 59 |
| 6 | Stade Rennais F.C. | 34 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 59 | 50 | 9 | 59 |
| 7 | AS Monaco | 34 | 16 | 6 | 12 | 60 | 54 | 6 | 54 |
| 8 | RC Strasbourg Alsace | 34 | 15 | 8 | 11 | 58 | 47 | 11 | 53 |
| 9 | Toulouse FC | 34 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 47 | 46 | 1 | 45 |
| 10 | FC Lorient | 34 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 48 | 51 | -3 | 45 |
| 11 | Paris FC | 34 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 47 | 50 | -3 | 44 |
| 12 | Stade Brestois 29 | 34 | 10 | 9 | 15 | 43 | 55 | -12 | 39 |
| 13 | Angers SCO | 34 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 29 | 48 | -19 | 36 |
| 14 | Le Havre AC | 34 | 7 | 14 | 13 | 32 | 44 | -12 | 35 |
| 15 | AJ Auxerre | 34 | 8 | 10 | 16 | 34 | 44 | -10 | 34 |
| 16 | OGC Nice | 34 | 7 | 11 | 16 | 37 | 60 | -23 | 32 |
| 17 | FC Nantes | 34 | 5 | 9 | 20 | 29 | 52 | -23 | 24 |
| 18 | FC Metz | 34 | 3 | 8 | 23 | 32 | 76 | -44 | 17 |
What Are the Ligue 1 Relegation Playoffs?
The Ligue 1 relegation play-offs feature a decisive tail-of-the-season. It consists of clashes between the 16th-placed team in Ligue 1 and a Ligue 2 club. The relegation play-offs see the 16th-placed team in Ligue 1 face the winner of the Ligue 2 promotion play-offs. Furthermore, Ligue 2 involves the clubs competing for 3rd to 5th place.
The relegation play-off consists of two legs. The first leg is presented at the Ligue 2 team, while the second leg takes place at the Ligue 1 team. The playoff participants are Ligue 1 clubs fighting to avoid relegation and Ligue 2 clubs hoping to avoid automatic promotion to the top flight.
Why Did These Two Teams Compete in the Relegation Playoffs?
The two clubs meeting in the Ligue 1 relegation play-offs come from very different pathways. One team is in 16th place in Ligue 1, battled against relegation, and has avoided finishing in the bottom two. Their league position reflects low scores, inconsistent performances, and struggles throughout the season. In contrast, the Ligue 2 playoff winner is placed between the 3rd and 5th in the second division. Later, they successfully steered the promotion play-off rounds.
How did the teams perform in the Ligue 1 relegation playoffs?
The Ligue 1 relegation play-offs featured a tussle between AS Saint-Étienne and OGC Nice for survival next season.
Leg 1 of 1
In the first leg of the relegation play-off, Nice tried to score in the first half. The Ligue 1 club, under relegation pressure and focused on the defensive unit, tried to control possession. Meanwhile, AS Saint-Étienne built on its promotion playoff success and hoped to challenge its opponents. Both teams delivered crucial saves from their goalkeepers, and creative midfielders dictated the tempo before halftime.
Managers adjusted tactics with the Ligue 1 club in the second half. The final stage was tense, with both teams seeking an aggregate lead heading into the second leg. In the end, the Ligue 1 club finished in a 0-0 draw against the Ligue 2 club, with no goals throughout the match.
Leg 2 of 2
The final match of the second leg between the two teams made it decisive. Both teams were unable to score at halftime. After the break, OGC Nice took control when Jonathan Clauss scored the goal. On the other hand, Zuriko Davitashvili scored for AS Saint-Étienne. Later, OGC Nice dominated, with Kaïl Boudache scoring a goal. At the close of the game, Elye Wahi was under pressure as his team fought for survival. He scored twice at the end of the game. Ultimately, OGC Nice defeated AS Saint-Étienne 4-1 in the relegation playoffs. As a result, Nice claimed and retained top-flight status for the following season.
Historic Relegation Playoff Winners Over the Years
| Season | Leg | Date | Match | Score | Venue and Referee |
| 2016-17 | First leg | May 25, 2017 | ES Troyes AC vs FC Lorient | 2-1 | Stade de l’Aube, Troyes Attendance: 14,081 Referee: Ruddy Buquet |
| 2016-17 | Second leg | May 28, 2017 | FC Lorient vs ES Troyes AC | 0-0 | Stade du Moustoir, Lorient Attendance: 16,000 Referee: Clément Turpin |
| 2017-18 | First leg | May 23, 2018 | AC Ajaccio Vs Toulouse FC | 0-3 | Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier Attendance: 0 (Behind closed doors) Referee: Ruddy Buquet |
| 2017-18 | Second leg | May 27, 2018 | Toulouse FC vs AC Ajaccio | 1-0 | Stadium Municipal, Toulouse Attendance: 16,519 Referee: Benoît Bastien |
| 2018-19 | First leg | May 30, 2019 | RC Lens vs Dijon FCO | 1-1 | Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens Attendance: 37,355 Referee: Amaury Delerue |
| 2018-19 | Second leg | June 2, 2019 | Dijon FCO vs RC Lens | 3-1 | Stade Gaston Gérard, Dijon Attendance: 15,367 Referee: Ruddy Buquet |
| 2019-20 | – | – | No Playoffs were played. | – | – |
| 2020-21 | First leg | May 27, 2021 | Toulouse FC vs FC Nantes | 1-2 | Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse Attendance: 0 (Behind closed doors) Referee: Jérémie Pignard |
| 2020-21 | Second leg | May 30, 2021 | FC Nantes vs Toulouse FC | 0-1 | Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes Attendance: 0 (Behind closed doors) Referee: Benoît Bastien |
| 2021-22 | First leg | May 26, 2022 | AJ Auxerre Vs AS Saint-Étienne | Stade de l’Abbé-Deschamps, Auxerre Attendance: 17, 479 Referee: Benoît Millot | |
| 2021-22 | Second Leg | May 29, 2022 | AS Saint-Étienne vs AJ Auxerre | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne Attendance: 24,489 Referee: Antony Gautier | |
| 2022-23 | – | – | No Playoffs took place. | – | – |
| 2023-24 | First leg | May 30, 2024 | AS Saint-Étienne vs FC Metz | 2-1 | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne Attendance: 35,356 Referee: Benoît Millot |
| 2023-24 | Second leg | June 2, 2024 | FC Metz vs AS Saint-Étienne | 2-2 | Stade Saint-Symphorien, Longeville-lès-Metz |
| 2024-25 | First leg | May 21, 2025 | FC Metz vs Stade de Reims | 1-1 | Stade Saint-Symphorien, Metz Attendance: 27,767 Referee: Hakim Ben El Hadj |
| 2024-25 | Second leg | May 29, 2025 | Stade de Reims vs FC Metz | 1-3 | Stade Auguste-Delaune, Reims Attendance: 20,392 Referee: Eric Wattellier |
| 2025-26 | First leg | May 26, 2026 | AS Saint-Étienne vs OGC Nice | 0-0 | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne Attendance: 39,772 Referee: Benoît Bastien |
| 2025-26 | Second leg | May 29, 2026 | OGC Nice vs AS Saint-Étienne | 4-1 | Allianz Riviera, Nice Attendance: 0 (Behind closed doors) Referee: Ruddy Buquet |
OGC Nice’s Domestic Honors
| Competition | Titles Won | Years |
| Ligue 1 (French Champion) | 4 | 1950–51, 1951–52, 1955–56, 1958–59 |
| Coupe de France | 3 | 1951–52, 1953–54, 1996–97 |
| French Super Cup (Trophée des Champions) | 1 | 1970 |
| French 2nd Tier Champion (Ligue 2) | 4 | 1947–48, 1964–65, 1969–70, 1993–94 |
OGC Nice’s Impact Throughout the Ligue 1 Season
Nice has maintained a consistent home performance over the past year. They have inconsistent divergence experiences throughout the Ligue 1 2025-26 season. Dante Bonfim Costa Santos is an excellent defender, while new signing Jonathan Clauss adds depth and dynamism. Under the manager’s guidance, the Nice team has a stable experience and delivers standard execution.
Current head coach Claude Puel changed the defensive structure and adopted a more open attacking style. OGC Nice maintained inconsistent performances and were placed just above the relegation zone in the Ligue 1 standings. As a result, the club was forced to compete in the relegation play-offs match.
How OGC Nice Benefited from Relegation Playoff Success
OGC Nice has earned its place in the Ligue 1 relegation playoffs. They carried a major benefit across sporting, financial, and reputational dimensions. Nice has shaped their squad development and transfer strategy for the forward. The outcome also gives greater stability for squad development and future transfer activity.
What’s Next for OGC Nice After Securing Ligue 1 Status?
After earning its Ligue 1 status through the relegation play-offs, Nice has the opportunity to restart its new campaign. Nice will be crucial for the preseason league and for integrating younger talents. Their new squad aims to make a wonderful winning streak through their defense and attacking styles. The play-off success has provided the club with stability and additional time to plan for the next. As a result, Nice is well-positioned to become stronger and more competitive in the seasons ahead.
Closure
Following the OGC Nice 2025-26 campaign, the relegation playoffs carry significant importance. The club secured financial stability and became one of the elite French clubs. Nice gave its fans what they wanted without upsetting them after a tense season. Looking ahead to the 2026-27 campaign, the club has a chance to reset and aim higher with much less struggle. OGC Nice will aim to enhance its competitiveness and sustain its success in the future.
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