By Sports Editorial in Caen
Published on
May 3, 24 at 9:42
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We all remember the first leg between Caen and Laval, at Francis Le Basser, and for two essential reasons, it is a very bad memory for Caen supporters. First, because Stade Malherbe had conceded its first defeat of the season by conceding two goals (a shot deflected by the wall and an avoidable penalty) in added time (93rd and 95th) while it was leading (goal from Abdi on a free kick in the 77th), then because this defeat would be followed by ten consecutive matches without the slightest victory.
If Stade Malherbe is not on the podium today, it is undoubtedly partly due to this setback in Mayenne. However, it is not yet time to take stock or regrets because the Caen team can still write a beautiful page in its history, but it will be necessary to start by making the people of Laval pay for the setbacks suffered in the first leg. The return match takes place this Friday, May 3, 2024 (8:00 p.m.) at the Ornano stadium.
A revenge to take against Laval
On the podium for a good part of the season, Stade Lavallois has just experienced a terrible slump (five defeats and a draw) before a welcome victory against Bordeaux on the last day. Long in the race for direct promotion to Ligue 1, the Tangos have somewhat fallen into line but are still ahead of Stade Malherbe by one point in the standings and are still one of the legitimate candidates for the play-offs. Their success over the Girondins revived them.
Double or nothing for both teams
Suffice it to say that this meeting on the 36th day of Ligue 2 has a decisive aspect for both opponents which would virtually mean the end of the loser’s hopes of advancement.
Nicolas Seube still believes in his lucky star: “I’ve said it for a long time, I have the feeling that anything can still happen this season, including good surprises for Stade Malherbe. At bookmakers, we start from afar but our duty is to win every match to have the right to dream. Our competitors also have difficult matches with high stakes and it’s not easy for everyone.”
Give yourself the right to dream
However, cooled by certain recent poor performances and by the absence of real positive series, the Caen coach wants to be fatalistic.
In a championship, there is never anything illogical. Currently, we deserve this place in the ranking. Do we deserve better? We’ll see that in the evening of the last day.
While waiting for this deadline, he anticipates a difficult match this evening. “Laval is difficult to maneuver. They are an efficient team on set pieces, very good vertically with a lot of speed up front and impacts, a bit like Rodez. »
Only one question regarding the composition of the team which will start the match: who in place of the suspended Brahim Traoré? Ben Youssef? Coefficient ? Meddah? Nicolas Seube recognizes that he has already made his choice by barely revealing a somewhat enigmatic clue: “we must use everyone’s potential. A slower player must compensate by being faster in reading the game.”
Bernard GUYONNET
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