The Ligue 1 promotion playoff first leg between AS Saint-Étienne and OGC Nice ended in a drab 0-0 draw on Tuesday evening. The match was remarkably low on attacking intent, with both sides failing to register a single shot on target throughout the 90 minutes.
According to Opta, the game produced a combined Expected Goals (xG) total of just 0.41, the lowest recorded in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 this season, including playoff matches. This figure also represents the lowest xG value across the last four seasons in French professional football. The previous lowest xG total came in a match between Grenoble and Bastia in September 2025, with a value of 0.55.
The lack of attacking threat has drawn criticism, with some observers suggesting the match was one of the poorest displays of the season. The result leaves the promotion tie delicately poised ahead of the second leg in Nice. Saint-Étienne, hoping to return to the top flight, will need to improve their attacking output to have a chance of securing promotion.
Nice, who finished fourth in Ligue 1, will be equally keen to find more attacking fluency. The club recently threatened legal action against the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) if their international players were to miss the playoff matches due to scheduling conflicts. They will be looking to capitalize on their home advantage in the return fixture. The stalemate raises questions about the attacking capabilities of both teams as they vie for a place in next season’s Ligue 1.
Recent reports also indicate concerns over the potential participation of Nice midfielder Hicham Boudaoui in the upcoming World Cup, though details remain scarce. The second leg is expected to be a more open affair, with both teams needing to take risks to secure promotion.
