Saint-Étienne has established itself as the early favorite to win the Ligue 2 title after securing a commanding 4-0 victory over Grenoble Foot 38 at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, according to Grenoble manager Olivier Frapolli. The result leaves Les Verts at the top of the table with nine points from their opening three matches of the campaign.
Frapolli did not hesitate to crown his opponents following Saturday night’s lopsided fixture in the Loire region. Reporting from local media outlets and sports correspondents highlights that Saint-Étienne has now outscored opponents 10-1 across their first three outings, following a 3-0 win against Sochaux and a 3-1 triumph over Clermont.
“There is a gap between today’s Grenoble and Saint-Étienne. “We can talk about salaries, resources, and many other aspects. However, it is clear that there is a manager, Ian Cathro, who has successfully implemented his ideas. The players seem to adhere to this vision.”
Early Dominance and First-Half Barrage
The match was effectively decided during a blistering first 45 minutes by the home side. Thierno Ballo doubled the advantage six minutes later in the 19th minute, finishing off a slick build-up orchestrated by teammate Irvin Cardona.
Cardona himself added a third just before the halftime whistle in the 45th+3 minute, capitalizing on a poorly cleared free-kick to send Saint-Étienne into the locker room with a comfortable three-goal cushion.
“They have many assets, both on the pitch and on the touchline,” Frapolli added regarding Saint-Étienne’s tactical setup. “It’s a team that is currently solid in attack, with talent, which controls possession well and is formidable during transition phases.”
Tactical Identity under Ian Cathro
Grenoble’s manager pointed directly to the tactical cohesion instilled by Ian Cathro as the driving force behind the club’s blistering start. While acknowledging the financial disparity and depth of resources available to Saint-Étienne compared to other clubs in the division, Frapolli emphasized that squad construction alone does not explain the fluidity of their performances.
The tactical blueprint has relied heavily on suffocating opponents through sustained possession while utilizing rapid vertical transitions.
“Of course, it’s only the beginning of the season,” Frapolli noted. “However, based on what we’ve observed in previous matches and this one, they are the favorites for the championship.”
League 2 Standings and Next Steps
With the victory, Saint-Étienne sits alone at the summit of the Ligue 2 standings with nine points from three matches, ahead of the remaining fixtures in the round.
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