Grenoble Foot 38 Suffers Late Collapse Against Pau FC in Ligue 2
Grenoble Foot 38 dropped points in the final minutes of a Ligue 2 fixture at Stade du Hameau in Pau, surrendering a lead to lose 2–1 after conceding a decisive goal in the 90th minute.
Matthéo Xantippe and Olivier Frapolli Point to Defensive Struggles
Defender Matthéo Xantippe noted that the team has repeatedly surrendered matches in the closing moments. Up 1–0 until the 75th minute, Grenoble failed to manage the game state, repeating defensive lapses seen in previous outings. Manager Olivier Frapolli expressed deep frustration for everyone at the club, stating that his side dropped too deep and invited unnecessary pressure after the intermission.
« C’est compliqué d’analyser à chaud. Cela plusieurs fois que l’on prend des buts à la 90e minute. Là, jusqu’à la 75e, on mène au score et on craque. » — Matthéo Xantippe
Grenoble Fails to Maintain Lead After Tactical Shift
Frapolli had altered his team’s system to adapt to Pau while deploying two traditional attackers. The tactical shift yielded a controlled first half and a deserved opening goal. However, Grenoble lacked composure after the break and failed to maintain possession. A near-miss that struck the crossbar just before Pau’s equalizer proved costly as the hosts capitalized on the visitors’ inability to weather the second-half storm.
Xantippe and Frapolli Call for Resilience After Defeat
The result extends a difficult period for Grenoble following a 2–0 defeat against Boulogne. Xantippe said the squad must remain united and supportive as they regroup. Frapolli called for clear-eyed realism regarding their current standing and mental resilience ahead of their next fixture on the Ligue 2 calendar.
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