On the lawn of the Hainaut stadium which has often been successful for them in recent years (4-2 in 2018, 4-1 in 2021, 5-4 in April), the Paris FC players can display a big smile. This Saturday at the last Valenciennes, the Parisians won a 3rd victory in a row (1-0) without conceding a goal and the 4th in a row away from home. The rise in the rankings continues. After the 10th day, Paris FC only had seven points. Two months and eight matches later, he has just collected 19 out of 24 possible. Before receiving the 18th QRM on Tuesday (8:45 p.m.) during the last day of the first leg, Stéphane Gilli’s team is 8th (his best ranking) now only 4 pts behind 5th Pau.
Paris FC can now look upwards again. Decimated by injuries for several months (Alakouch, Pembelé, Chergui, Lopez, Gueye, Lasne, Kolodziejczak, and Touré were absent like captain Mandouki, suspended), he will recover players in January, and recruit some too. In particular a right side to compensate for the rupture of Sofiane Alakouch’s cruciate ligaments.
This match in Valenciennes, like the one in Guingamp 15 days ago, also shows that Paris FC has reached a small milestone. Without always controlling, without always being very fair, without being very flamboyant, he manages to continue to achieve valuable successes on an accounting level. The defense with Moustapha Mbow still in boss size was solid. On the only real big alert, Obed Nkambadio – a strong choice by Gilli to have launched it at the end of September when the PFC was 17th -, was decisive with a save at the feet on a strike from Lilepo (12th).
In this team, there is also talent materialized by the action of the goal after a magnificent collective movement. Alimami Gory succeeds in his one-two with Adama Camara, to serve Pierre-Yves Hamel (38th). Already the author of a double against Rodez ten days ago (2-0), the 29-year-old Breton center forward is also in full rebirth and seems to have started on the basis of these prosperous years in Lorient (38 goals between 2017 and 2020 in L2). Promoted to captain for the first time in his career during this match in Valenciennes, he scored his 8th goal of the season. He was very close to scoring a double but Louchet diverted his shot well (71st).
“Pierre-Yves was also very important in the first duels and the breakouts to defend, like the other attackers Ilan, Jos and Ali,” welcomes Stéphane Gilli. I am very happy with the involvement and the state of mind of the whole group. In L2, we cannot always be beautiful, clean and elegant. You also have to know how to win by showing other values. It’s matches like this that make us progress further. In the first half, we weren’t into it, we were feverish in our choices. This is the first match where we had so much difficulty with our ball releases. It’s true that I like to come out short but at half-time, I told them that we could also play longer. We feel that there is fatigue in our bodies and minds, because we have come a long way, but these are three important points. We still have to finish the year well on Tuesday. »
Match sheet
VALENCIENNES – PARIS FC 0-1 (0-1)
Arbitre : M. Thual.
But. Hamel (38e).
Paris FC: Nkambadio – Core, Dabila, Mbow, Gaudin – Sweet, Demoncy (Sweet, 65th), Gory (Diaby Fadiga, 76th), Kebbal, Lukembila – Hamel (Jabbari, 90th). Entr. : Gilli.
