Saint-Etienne Promoted to Ligue 1 After Playoff Victory Over Metz

Former French champions Saint-Etienne have earned a return to Ligue 1 following a tense relegation/promotion playoff victory over Metz, who will now drop to the second division.

The second leg concluded with a 2-2 draw after extra time, securing Saint-Etienne's promotion with a 4-3 aggregate win, following their 2-1 victory in the first leg on Thursday.

Ibrahima Wadji scored the decisive goal for Saint-Etienne in the 117th minute, capitalizing on their numerical advantage after Papa Diallo's early red card for Metz.

Saint-Etienne's triumph comes two years after their relegation, as they finished third in Ligue 2 this season. Metz, on the other hand, were third from bottom in Ligue 1.

This marks Metz's seventh relegation from the top flight since the turn of the century, setting a new record.