While ASSE travels to Angers this Saturday, the Stéphanois must now return to the path to victory after losing by two goals against Lens. In its mini-championship, Saint-Étienne (14th) is only three points from the bottom (Montpellier), only one from the first relegation (Le Havre). A look back at the challenges of this ninth day of Ligue 1.
Mandatory victory to win in Ligue 1
Fourteenth in Ligue 1, Olivier Dall'Oglio's men travel to the Raymond Kopa Stadium this Saturday (5 p.m.). “We have the ability to hurt any opponent. Be ambitious.”, affirmed Olivier Dall'Oglio to his players in the locker room after the defeat against the Sang et Or. Saint-Étienne could grab three important points before the reception of Strasbourg (November 2) and the derby (November 10). Two oppositions in which ASSE will have to fight to obtain the slightest point. With a goal difference of -14 (6 goals for, 20 against), the slightest defeat could allow Montpellier, Angers, Le Havre and Toulouse to gain the upper hand.
But the Greens should not underestimate an Angevin team which is coming back from a draw against Toulouse. Jim Allevinah's teammates preached in the last 30 meters, but put in a solid performance against competitors who were holding on.
Meetings favorable to ASSE?
A victory would undoubtedly be welcome. If the Greens fell a few points behind after last weekend's defeat (7), several oppositions could be beneficial for ASSE.
Le Havre, which is coming back from five consecutive defeats, faces Julien Stephan's Stade Rennais (October 25, 8:45 p.m.). If the Rouge et Noir are in difficulty at the start of the championship, the HAC will undoubtedly have to fight to win against a much superior team. But Auxerre, then 12th in Ligue 1 after a victory against Reims (2-1), takes on the villains this Sunday at Groupama Stadium. Olympique Lyonnais remains on three consecutive victories in the league before facing AJA.
The clash of the dunces
This is undoubtedly the shock of the competing teams to maintain. A sick MHSC against a Toulouse team which has not tasted victory since September. Montpellier appears destabilized after the recent dismissal of Michel Der Zakarian. But the appointment of a certain Jean-Louis Gasset could allow a new start for Arnaud Nordin's teammates. In the event of a victory for Téfécé and a bad result in Angers, Saint-Étienne would have a good chance of losing its advantage in the race to maintain.
If Olivier Dall'Oglio's men are condemned to counting their points to hang on, ASSE must only count on good results to perform. In the event of a victory against SCO, the Stéphanois could take a real breath by reaching the 10-point mark.