AS Saint-Étienne faces Nice: Ben Old in doubt, Tardieu back for crucial playoff clash

With the first leg of the Ligue 1 playoffs against Nice just hours away, AS Saint-Étienne faces an injury cloud over their defensive options. Ben Old, the left-back, remains a major doubt after picking up a hamstring issue during last week’s play-off victory over Rodez. His availability will hinge on a final fitness test on Tuesday morning, just hours before kick-off at Geoffroy-Guichard.

The situation for Florian Tardieu is far more encouraging. The midfielder, who has been sidelined since early March with a calf strain, is now fully fit and set to return to action. His presence in the starting lineup will provide a significant boost to the Green and White’s midfield options.

Meanwhile, the club is grappling with another setback as Djylian N’Guessan, another young attacker, has been ruled out due to his own hamstring troubles. The Ghanaian contingent at the club is also under scrutiny, with Augustine Boakye and Ebenezer Annan awaiting confirmation regarding their participation in the World Cup qualifiers.

Key match details

The stakes couldn’t be higher for both sides. Saint-Étienne, fresh off their dramatic play-off triumph against Rodez, will be aiming to secure a place in Ligue 1’s top flight. Their opponents, Nice, will be equally determined to maintain their elite status.

Philippe Montanier, the Saint-Étienne manager, addressed the media earlier today, emphasizing the importance of the tie while acknowledging the injury concerns.