Saint-Étienne secures Ligue 1 playoff spot after dramatic penalty shootout win

After a nail-biting penalty shootout, Saint-Étienne clinched a spot in the Ligue 1 promotion playoff, defeating Rodez 7-6 (0-0 a.e.t.) at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. The victory ended a streak of five consecutive shootout losses for the Verts, who had not triumphed in this format since 2016.

The match itself was a tense affair, with both sides struggling to break through. Rodez, riding a 21-game unbeaten streak, came close to scoring late in the second half but saw a golden opportunity wasted. Saint-Étienne, meanwhile, managed a handful of half-chances, with Wilitty Younoussa hitting the post in a rare offensive moment.

Maubleu’s heroics in the shootout

With the score locked at 0-0 after extra time, Philippe Montanier made a bold tactical decision by replacing his starting goalkeeper, Gautier Larsonneur, with penalty specialist Brice Maubleu. The move paid off spectacularly. While Maubleu missed his own attempt, he went on to make four crucial saves, including the decisive stop that sent the Verts through to the playoff.

“I had the chance to win the game with my penalty, but I missed. After that, I had to step up and deliver,” Maubleu said post-match. “It was an incredible night—Geoffroy-Guichard was electric, and the team fought until the very end.”

Saint-Étienne’s path to redemption

This victory marks a significant turnaround for Saint-Étienne, who were relegated just a year ago. Their playoff opponent will be the 16th-placed team in Ligue 1, whose identity will be confirmed after the 34th matchday. The winner of the playoff will face the 15th-placed team in a high-stakes showdown for Ligue 1 survival.

The Verts’ triumph over Rodez also denied the Ruthénois a chance to face the Ligue 1 struggler, a repeat of the 2024 playoff where Saint-Étienne defeated Metz to secure promotion before an immediate relegation the following season.

With the playoff spot secured, Saint-Étienne now sets its sights on the Ligue 1 survival battle, aiming to avoid a similar fate to their 2024-25 campaign.