The Greens force the decision against Clermont

Context

After an interesting preseason match against Auxerre (1-1), Les Verts return to Geofroy-Guichard and Ligue 2 with a home game against their Auvergne neighbors, who gave them a hard time in the first leg (1-2).

Starting XI

There are two changes to note tonight compared to the team that faced Auxerre. Against Clermont, Eirik Horneland is starting Aïmen Moueffek in midfield and Lucas Stassin at the forefront of the attack.

Game scenarion

Although Verte had the first chance of the match (4th minute), Clermont had the slight upper hand in the first quarter of an hour, controlling possession and playing their chances to the full. After those first fifteen minutes, Saint-Étienne produced some interesting passages of play but failed to create any clear-cut chances. 

Clermont, de son côté, profite d’un ballon dévié par la défense ligérienne pour tenter (27e) et d’un contre pour donner des sueurs froides au Chaudron mais le tir de Fakhili (31e) est trop enlevé. Saint-Étienne responded almost immediately through Nadir El Jamali (32'), but his shot was deflected for a corner. Both teams continued to battle for possession, but clear chances were few and far between, with the exception of an acrobatic effort from Aïmen Moueffek (45+1').

The second half started at the same pace, but Augustine Boakye found his form. After an initial shot off target (53'), the Ghanaian took advantage of a backheel pass from Lucas Stassin following a one-two with Aïmen Moueffek to give Les Verts the lead (1-0, 55'). Gautier Larsonneur then had to pull out all the stops to deny Auvergne three huge chances (67').  Despite a huge handball by Caufriez in the box that went unpunished, Igor Miladinovic remained focused and fired off a powerful shot that forced Guivarch to stretch (72'). Les Verts could have even extended their lead thanks to a shot from Nadir El Jamali (79'), and Clermont could have equalized through Bellache (83'), but the score remained unchanged. Saint-Étienne won by the smallest of margins but picked up three crucial points.

Coming next

After this hard-fought victory against a Clermont side that proved very difficult to break down, Eirik Horneland's players move into third place in Ligue 2, overtaking Reims, whom they will face next Saturday (8pm) at the Stade Auguste-Delaune.