Nice draw against Metz and face relegation play-off

OGC Nice were held by an already relegated FC Metz at the Allianz Riviera and will now face a relegation play-off against Saint-Étienne in order to retain their Ligue 1 McDonald's status for next season.

Nice didn't have destiny in their own hands

Going into this one, Nice's fate was not in their own hands. However, with Auxerre facing a difficult task with a trip to Lille, Nice would have been confident that a win would be enough to lift them out of the relegation play-off spot.

But Claude Puel's side did not play like they were going for the three points in the first half. It was instead Metz, already relegated from Ligue 1 McDonald's and winless under Benoit Tavenot, who looked the more dangerous. Giorgi Abuashvili put an effort over

Yehvann Diouf's bar (9') but the Senegal international was soon worked into action. It was the Georgian again, this time free inside the box, who forced the save (14').

It was an even better save from Believe Munongo moments later. Curling away and bouncing right in front of him, Diouf parried it wide (16'). Chances for Le Gym were limited in the first-half. Sofiane Diop curled wide twice (12', 44'). With his second effort, he should have at least hit the target, unpressured on the edge of the Metz box.

The legend Dante is playing the final match of his career! 🥹🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/YAXLwqJjcu
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) May 17, 2026

With Auxerre leading in Lille and Le Havre leading in Lorient, the pressure was on Nice. As things stood, not even a win would suffice, but it would allow them to bump up the Ligue 1 McDonald's table in the event of a goal going in their favour elsewhere.

There was no positive movement in matches elsewhere, as far as Nice were concerned, and at the Allianz Riviera, Puel's side didn't do enough to break the deadlock. Mohamed-Ali Cho, on at half-time for Kail Boudache, went closest, poking an effort just wide of Jonathan Fischer's far post (72').

Auxerre then doubled their lead in Lille to ensure that Christophe Pélissier's side would be playing their football in Ligue 1 McDonald's next season. Irrespective, Nice didn't control the controllables.

They will head to Paris on Friday to face Lens in the Coupe de France final, but their minds will be more firmly fixed on the two matches against ASSE, which will decide their top-flight status for next season. Nervy times on the Cote d'Azur.

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