AS Saint-Étienne is making the second shortest trip of its season this Sunday. The Greens face Clermont Foot from 3 p.m. on behalf of the 24th day of Ligue 1. A duel of neighbors but especially badly classified : ASSE is 20th with 18 points, Clermont 15th with 24 points.
“It is a direct competitor and the maintenance passes by a victory against direct competitors according to Greens goalkeeper Paul Bernardoni. A victory will allow us to start a series which will be more than interesting and if we manage to come back with the 3 points, we will forget that at one point we had 12 points and everything will be tightened. The goal is to put pressure on everyone. After that it will be a big final fight“.
Clermont will be revengeful
If successful, the Greens could, for the first time since the 5th day of Ligue 1, get out of the red zone. The objective is also to trigger a third victory for the first time this season (after the successes against Angers and Montpellier). Winner of Rennes and Nice, Clermont has the same objective. The promoted could also put the Greens at 9 points if successful and take an important step towards maintaining.
“We are aware that this can allow us to take a good break recognizes the Clermont technician Pascal Gastien. But we haven’t changed anything in what we’ve done since the start of the season. We have no more pressure. It could have been a turning point in the first leg too“.
The first round in November is probably still across the throat of the Clermontois. They led 2-0 10 minutes from time before losing 3-2. In front of a sold-out Gabriel-Montpied stadium, the Auvergnats will no doubt want to avenge the affront and show that the “partner” club of ASSE has taken its independence.
- The probable composition of ASSE : Bernardoni – Mason, Sacko, Mangala, Nadé, Kolodziejczak, – Camara, Youssouf – Boudebouz – Khazri, Nordin