Like last season, Stade Lavallois played its first pre-season game in Fougères. An opposition against US Concarneau (National) for the promoted in Ligue 2.
The two teams were able to carry out a squad review with roughly a different team per half for the two clubs. On the Laval side, Olivier Frapolli was able to see five of the six recruits at work. Defender Pape Djibril Diaw having been spared for a slight health concern. In the first half, Sam Sana occupied the right lane (while Kevin Perrot played on the left).
30-year-old defender Pierrick Cros was discharged prematurely due to a left calf contracture. And the goalkeeper Maxime Oboe received a blow, forcing him to leave his partners five minutes before the end of the first period. Laval led 1-0 at the break thanks to their captain, Jimmy Roye.
In the second half, it was a team a little more new look with four rookies and two young players from the B team. Yohan Tavares was positioned in the axis of the three-man defence. Kevin Tapoko and Steve Nsimba in midfield, and the Algerian international, Zakaria Naidji leading with Geoffray Durban. Concarneau equalized on the hour mark thanks to former Laval resident Ambroise Ghoboon trial this week with US Concarneau and who could sign with Les Thoniers for this future season.
Laval coach Olivier Frapolli has seen some interesting things: “especially offensively with Nsimba and Naidji. Zakaria created a lot of chances and we saw that it combined rather well with Geoffray Durbant. It’s promising. Sam Sanna did what he had to do in his right lane, although I think he needs to take a little more cash to be a little more offensive. And then, Yohan Tavares behind was sober. He is a player who needs time. He only joined the group last Sunday.“
A delayed return to competition for Alexis Sauvage
The number 1 goalkeeper of Stade Lavallois, Alexis Sauvage, did not participate in the meeting this Friday evening. He just hasn’t returned to training yet for purely medical reasons after undergoing extensive tests just after the end of the season. As a result, there is no certainty that Alexis Sauvage can be ready for the first league matches, explains coach Olivier Frapolli: “it is still some time before he can resume training. He may need a month of complete rest after his exams so it will be a bit tight. It will depend on the evolution of his situation. A point will be made on July 7 or 8 and then we will see if he can resume with the team or not.“
The second preparation match will take place on Saturday July 9 in Dinan against Guingamp (Ligue 2).