Two weeks after the defeat in the Derby, ASSE must relaunch against Montpellier. The Héraultais gained confidence by beating Brest before the international break. The MHSC wishes to remind its competitors to maintain it. A victory could allow them to leave last place in the ranking. The Greens intend to put their opponents six lengths behind. Here is the composition that Olivier Dall'Oglio should choose against his former club.
A new shortage in defense at ASSE
Before the Derby, Olivier Dall'Oglio had recovered several elements like Ibrahima Wadji or Pierre Cornud. Yvann Maçon had made his return a week earlier against Strasbourg. The Guadeloupean full-back will be absent again this Saturday and will be arrested for around 10 to 15 days. The Saint-Etienne coach mentioned functional knee pain during his previous injury. Mickaël Nadé is also out. The player trained at the club will miss a few matches. His return is expected before the winter break.
Still missing, Anthony Briançon has still not returned to collective training. Olivier Dall'Oglio announced that his defender should return to the group next week. Thomas Monconduit gradually resumed the race. The midfielder will have to wait several more weeks before returning to collective sessions. Already absent for several weeks, Ben Old was passing through Forez this week. The New Zealander will get rid of his brace and begin his rehabilitation. Olivier Dall'Oglio still records a return, that of Mathieu Cafaro, suspended for accumulation of yellow cards.
Forced changes in defense
To keep the Saint-Etienne goals against Montpellier, Gautier Larsonneur should, barring any surprises, be established. The former Brest player had a solid match in Lyon before making an inconsequential error. The ASSE goalkeeper cleared the ball on Mikautadze, which allowed Nuamah to double the lead. Fortunately, the Lyon striker had touched the ball with his arm.
Olivier Dall'Oglio will have to change his defensive line against Montpellier. The Saint-Etienne coach should align Dennis Appiah on the right side. The former Caen player is the only professional right-back present in the Saint-Etienne group. On the left, two choices are available to ODO: Pierre Cornud and Léo Pétrot. The second can also play in the center in the absence of Nadé, but he should still start at left back and be preferred to the former Montpellier.
The central hinge will also experience the change. Mickaël Nadé's package will force ODO to modify a pair that works well. Dylan Batubinsika should start alongside Yunis Abdelhamid. The Moroccan international has been under fire since the start of the season. The 37-year-old defender should find a starting place for the first time since the 4-2 defeat at Angers.
ASSE has identified its typical trio in the middle
Olivier Dall'Oglio seems to have found his typical midfield trio. Pierre Ekwah should once again start at the lower sentinel position. The player on loan from Sunderland has started in every match since his arrival at ASSE.
Louis Mouton should also be aligned by the Cévennes coach. The player trained at the club was injured three weeks ago against Strasbourg. If he had been able to hold his place against OL, his performance was below his previous starts. At his side, Benjamin Bouchouari also knew how to seize his chance when his coach called on him. The Moroccan should start again this evening against MHSC.
A major change in attack
As for the attacking trio, Olivier Dall'Oglio should once again align Augustine Boakye on the right lane. The Ghanaian was not very visible during the Derby. The former Wolfsberger player is still waiting for his first goal contribution in the Green jersey. If Augustine Boakye was not much in demand in Lyon, it was the opposite for Zuriko Davitashvili. The Georgian has been Saint-Etienne's best attacker since the start of the season and confirmed it against OL. Voted best player of the month for October in Ligue 1, he was the most dangerous Stéphanois in Lyon. He should once again be established on the left wing of ASSE.
At the forefront of the attack, ODO should make a change. Ibrahim Sissoko should be preferred to Lucas Stassin. Scorer against Strasbourg three weeks ago, the Malian striker has not started since the match against Lens, more than a month ago. For his part, Lucas Stassin played two play-off matches with Belgium Espoirs to qualify for Euro 2025. The player trained in Anderlecht started in both matches and is not expected to make another start in the jersey of the 'Euro 2025. 'ASSE this evening.
On the bench: Maubleu – Cornud – Fomba – Tardieu – Moueffek – Amougou – Stassin – Wadji – Cafaro
