Soccer. And the derby between Le Mans FC and Stade Lavallois: it’s Sunday, February 27 in the afternoon at the MMArena stadium in Le Mans. The match will be broadcast live on France 3 Pays de la Loire. This return match of the 23rd day of National will be an opportunity for Le Mans FC to redeem themselves after two defeats against the Mayenne in the league and in the Coupe de France.
But the Loire shock does not attract crowds for the moment. We are far from the 18,000 spectators gathered at the stadium before the pandemic. On Wednesday, the ticket office had sold between 6,000 and 6,500 seats. Blame it on the team’s disappointing results, believes Thierry Gomez, president of Le Mans FC: “football is a sport of emotions, where you react very quickly. We win twice we are adored, we are heroes. We lose twice, we get zeros. Blame it also on COVID, “which is still in the minds”.
And the meeting was scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, but it had to be postponed to Sunday at 3:15 p.m. to allow the match to be broadcast on France 3. The channel has an agreement with the French Football Federation, assures Thierry Gomez. But problem, “on Sunday afternoon, it plays on the grounds of France and in the Sarthe at the amateur level Many spectators will be playing too. But for Thierry Gomez these adaptations for television, “It’s part of the game. We’re not going to complain about it.” Moreover, Le Mans FC is playing against Concarneau on Monday March 7, a match that is also offbeat for the broadcast of this 24th day of National on Canal + Sport. “We have to adapt”.
Objective: 8,000 spectators
Nevertheless, the Virage Sud supporters club and its co-president Ludwig Letourneux remain very motivated for this derby, “knowing that we lost two games against Laval recently. For this match, we arrive with real ambitions and in the stands we will do what is necessary”.
Le Mans FC hopes to reach 8,000 spectators this Sunday and beat the attendance record for this season in National, which currently peaks at 6,200 people.
Kick-off of the match Stade Lavallois – Le Mans FC, 3:15 p.m., MMArena stadium, Le Mans.