Infuriating, frustrating: these two words must have sounded a lot of times in the bays of the Bonal stadium at the time of the final whistle, after this draw between FCSM and Paris FC. For this first meeting of the Ligue 2 season, Sochalians and Parisians shared the points in front of more than 12,000 spectators, quite a crowd for a match in the middle of the summer holidays. Olivier Guégan had lined up a 4-4-2, with a surprise in the middle: the tenure of young Malcolm Viltard in the sentry position.
Two red cards for the Parisians
It’s almost becoming a habit: the FCSM-PFC often reserve some pretty crazy scenarios. This one was no exception to the rule: for 90 minutes, Olivier Guégan’s players dominated their evening opponents, reduced to 10 at the end of the first period after the expulsion of captain Mandouki for a very late tackle on Tony Mauricio. The Parisians even finished the match at 9 after the second yellow card received by Julien Lopez for a gesture of humor towards the referee.
The Yellow and Blue dominated technically, imposed a very intense tempo and pressing from the first minute. But without being really dangerous in the Paris area. “Gonna have to be sharper, be more efficient in the finishing area“explained defender Valentin Henry at the end of the match. Despite everything, the Sochalien retained a lot of positive things from this meeting, especially in terms of athleticism:”We were apprehensive about that, it’s always difficult to know where we are in a first league match.“For his first official match on the FCSM bench, the new coach Olivier Guégan appreciated the attitude of his players, who spared no effort.
“It was an interesting match in content. We are gaining momentum against a big team. What is unfortunate is that we did not create more chances. But we were against a very good team. grouped together, watching for the slightest error on our part. […] With this system, we had control in the middle, we recovered balls very high on the ground. The public saw a committed, combative team and on that, I am satisfied”, Olivier Guégan
For his big first at Bonal, the Malian striker Ibrahim Sissoko thought he could unlock his counter in the middle of the second period. But he was eventually flagged offside. His teammates managed to find him a few times on crosses, but the rookie didn’t have much to get his teeth into. Last season, Sochaux had the 3rd best defense in the league and only the 7th attack. This site of the offensive sector, Olivier Guégan had immediately identified it on his arrival. “You just have to be patient“he hammered again last night at a press conference.
The Yellow and Blue continue this Saturday August 6, with the first trip of the season to the lawn of Grenoble. A match to follow of course live and in full on France Bleu Belfort Montbéliard.