Sixteenth and play-off, AS Saint-Étienne is taking advantage of the international break to prepare for its final deadlines before the end of the calendar year. On the program: four matches (Montpellier, Rennes, Marseille, Toulouse) await the Greens with the objective of spending the holidays warm.
On the occasion of the MHSC reception scheduled for next Saturday at Geoffroy-Guichard (7 p.m.), Olivier Dall’Oglio and his men will play a real shock from the bottom of the table. With 7 points on the clock, the Pailladins are only three points behind the Stéphanois, eager to get back on track after their last defeat against OL (1-0).
Mickaël Nadé already withdrawn
This meeting will also pit the two most permeable defenses in the championship against each other. With 25 goals conceded after 11 days, ASSE sees only the Héraultais surpassing it in this area (31 goals). The leaders are already planning to correct the situation by taking advantage of the month of January to strengthen this playing area.
Manhandled for its return to the elite, the defense must deal with numerous injuries. Yvann Maçon and Pierre Cornud have already missed several weeks of competition. If the first has regained his starting status since the beginning of November, the second has still not returned to the field.
Affected by an external lateral knee ligament during the derby, Mickaël Nadé was added to the list of unavailable for four weeks. Enough to lead the Saint-Étienne coach to study several avenues to replace the former QRM man.
ASSE: Dylan Batubinsika uncertain against Montpellier?
But while Yunis Abdelhamid could take advantage of Nadé’s package to make his return to the eleven, news has come to sow trouble in central defense. Selected by the Congo national team on the penultimate day of the CAN qualifiers, Dylan Batubinsika had to skip the match against Guinea this Saturday.
In a press release, the Congolese Football Federation (Fecofa) mentions a “muscle alert” for the 28-year-old player. If a return to the group is expected for next Tuesday’s match against Ethiopia, there is no doubt that Olivier Dall’Oglio will carefully monitor the evolution of the state of health of Batubinsika, used during each day of the championship.
My favorite action? A one-two between the banks of the Garonne and the potreros of the Río de la Plata. Supporter of TéFéCé and member of Argentinos Juniors.
