OGC NICE
vs
Ligue 1 McDonald's • Journée 12 ALLIANZ RIVIERA
Previously known as Association Sportive Troyes Sainte-Savine, ESTAC (Espérance Sportive Troyes Aube Champagne) was founded in 1986.
Driven and developed by Alain Perrin, a tactical approach based on passing football, combined with the talent and performances of young players such as Jérôme Rothen and Mamadou Niang, helped the Aube-based club finish 7th in Ligue 1 Uber Eats in the 2000-01 season, earning qualification for the Intertoto Cup. After overcoming English side Newcastle, Troyes secured their place in the UEFA Cup that same year.
The following seasons proved more difficult, with ESTAC moving back and forth between the first and second divisions. In 2009-10, the club even found themselves competing in the third-tier National. They went on to win Ligue 2 BKT in both 2014-15 and 2020-21.
In the last 10 Ligue 1 meetings with ESTAC, OGC Nice have recorded 6 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats, scoring 17 goals and conceding 11.
In the last meeting between the two sides at the Allianz Riviera, on Matchday 10 of the 2022-23 Ligue 1 season, Les Aiglons claimed a 3-2 victory thanks to goals from Mattia Viti (2’), Andy Delort from the penalty spot (37’) and Nicolas Pépé (50’).
Having come through the youth ranks at ESTAC Troyes, Yehvann Diouf took his first steps in professional football before joining Stade de Reims in 2019. It was in Champagne that he truly established himself in Ligue 1, eventually becoming both first-choice goalkeeper and captain.
In the summer of 2025, the Senegalese international goalkeeper signed a five-year contract with OGC Nice. Quickly establishing himself between the posts for the Aiglons, Diouf made 38 appearances in his first season with the club. A reliable presence in key moments, he has become one of the Gym's key figures.
He particularly impressed in the victory over LOSC in September 2026, producing several decisive saves that earned him a place in the Team of the Week.
Since joining the City Football Group in September 2020, ESTAC have become part of a global network of clubs that also includes Melbourne City FC, New York City FC and Palermo FC, with Manchester City at the heart of the group.
For Troyes, this has resulted in a more international approach to recruitment and a management model inspired by the standards of Manchester City, with a strong emphasis on the development and movement of promising young players. However, the strategy has also attracted criticism from some supporters, who felt that the club was losing some of its local identity in favour of a more globalised model.
The Stade de l’Aube, home of ESTAC Troyes, has a capacity of 20,400. The distance between the stadium and the Allianz Riviera in Nice is 565 km as Mèfi flies !
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