A fair share of points!

The context

Auxerre and Saint-Étienne meet this Friday evening to open Matchday 19 of Ligue 1 McDonald's. After picking up four points from their first three games under coach Eirik Horneland, Les Verts have the chance to at least temporarily move out of the play-off spot if they can get a good result.

The XI

Suspended for accumulating yellow cards, Benjamin Bouchouari and Louis Mouton, the usual regulars in midfield, remained in the Forez, leaving their places to Mathis Amougou and Lamine Fomba. Pierre Ekwah, who was unwell last weekend, returns to the starting XI, as does Augustine Boakye, who scored a superb goal against Nantes. There are no changes to the St Etienne rearguard.

👊 Le XI stéphanois aligné par Eirik Horneland pour #AJAASSE ! 👥

Allez les Verts ! 💚 pic.twitter.com/WQUyGAzdAV

— AS Saint-Étienne (@ASSEofficiel) January 24, 2025

The Game

In a sold-out Abbé-Deschamps stadium, Les Verts played their possession game, but managed to get close to the goal mainly through set-pieces. At the other end, the first fuse was lit when Joly volleyed wide (13th). From a long ball, Sinayoko managed to open up a shooting position, but fortunately the post repelled his attempt (22nd). A few seconds later, Mickaël Nadé's good reading of the game prevented Perrin from shooting alone at goal (23rd). Symbolizing a period of strength for Auxerre, the home side opened the scoring when Traoré struck the post with a powerful shot (Auxerre 1-0 ASSE, 27th). The Greens reacted. After a scramble in the penalty area, the ball fell to Pierre Ekwah but his shot went wide (31st). Zuriko Davitashvili took a free-kick from 20 meters out, but Léon could only push it towards Augustine Boakye. The Ghanaian took his chance and, after a billiard kick, saw the ball reach Lucas Stassin, who only had to push with his head to level the scores (Auxerre 1-1 ASSE, 45th).

After the break, the home side had their first chance. On the volley again, Joly forced Gautier Larsonneur into a superb reflex save (51st). Launched by Lucas Stassin, Augustine Boakye eliminated Léon, but was too off balance to beat Mensah's last-ditch return (59th). In a rather tight encounter during which the Greens held the ball (63% possession), both sides could have claimed all three points in the final quarter of an hour. However, Massengo's swerving shot was too low to deceive “Larso” (76th), while Lucas Stassin's curling effort failed to hit Léon's top corner (81st). With this point, Les Verts have temporarily moved up two places, one point ahead of Rennes and Nantes. The two Breton teams face Monaco and Lyon respectively.

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Une publication partagée par AS Saint-Étienne (@asseofficiel)

Next

Les Verts make two trips in a row! After the Yonne, the Nord! Lille's Stade Pierre-Mauroy awaits Eirik Horneland and his men on Saturday, February 1. Kick-off at 9.05pm!