The match of the relegated from the historic L1 (16 French championship titles between them) and the extremes – Bordeaux was leader and Saint-Étienne 19th before the match – turned to the advantage of the Greens. Saint-Étienne (8 points out of 12 in the last 4 games) continues to rise after starting the season with three points less. Laurent Batlles’ team is within six points of its opponent. Irresistible last Saturday on the lawn of Paris FC (1-3), Bordeaux suffered a small setback with this second defeat of the season. His pursuers, who will play in the evening, have the opportunity to take back his chair as leader.
What you must remember
This shock was a small turning point for Saint-Étienne after a complicated month of August. Inconstant until then, the Greens have produced a solid and effective performance. If the Girondins, who could field their transfer window recruits for the first time, had started better, they quickly lost Alberth Elis (6th) and Junior Mwanga (24th), both injured. Saint-Étienne made the difference thanks to Ibrahima Wadji. After coming up against Gaëtan Poussin (22nd), the Senegalese rookie who arrived from Qarabag FK (Azerbaijan) opened his counter from his first start (1-0, 35th) on a nice decisive pass from Thomas Monconduit, the former Lorient midfielder another reinforcement of the last days of the ASSE transfer window.
Also arriving from Lorient, goalkeeper Mathieu Dreyer distinguished himself in the second period by pushing back the head of Dilane Bakwa (62nd) with his knee. The turning point of the game. Five minutes later, Yvann Maçon (3rd goal of the season) scored a fine volley to deceive Poussin (2-0, 67th).
Player: Thomas Monconduit
After playing 24 minutes Monday in Pau, Monconduit was established for the first time. The former Lorient midfielder in 147 L1 games has shown what he can bring to his new team in terms of balance. He was always right in the middle and decisive on the opener.
The number: 5
Bordeaux is doing well in Saint-Étienne. The Greens have won a 5th victory in the last 8 league meetings between the two clubs (2 draws, 1 loss).
The reactions
“It’s a benchmark victory because we were able to manage all our highs and lows. We won against the leader, it feels good. We get points. » Yvann Maçon (Saint-Étienne, at the microphone of BeIN)
“We missed a bit of everything. But there weren’t only negatives, it’s not a catastrophic match. The two entrance injuries disturbed us. But this defeat does not call into question. If we had been told that we would have 14 points after 8 matches, we would have signed immediately. » Gaëtan Poussin (goalkeeper of Bordeaux at the microphone of BeIN).
