The five days of rest did not dampen the good intentions of Saint-Etienne. Building on its good performance despite the defeat in the Coupe de France final against PSG, ASSE logically dominated Bordeaux in a friendly match (4-1) on Saturday at Geoffroy-Guichard.
Highly anticipated, Adil Aouchiche distinguished himself for his debut with the green jersey. Just before the break, the ex-Parisian gave his team back the advantage after a brilliant run (2-1, 44 ‘). Bodes well for the 18-year-old player who has obtained two other opportunities (32nd, 35th) despite a little technical waste including a loss of ball which could have been expensive without a nice intervention from Jessy Moulin on a shot from Maja (6th).
Right in the first half
The players of Claude Puel, who lined up in the first period an eleven who might not be very far from the one who will start in Marseille, at the opening of Ligue 1 on August 21, started strong. Their pressing considerably hampered the asphyxiated Girondins. And it took only two minutes for Mahdi Camara to intercept a ball in the middle and launch Arnaud Nordin who, with a cross strike, beats Benoît Costil (1-0, 2nd).
The right side runs at full speed for forty-five minutes, Mathieu Debuchy multiplying crosses while on the left, Timothée Kolodziejczak, less comfortable in this style, was discreet. Bordeaux, meanwhile, came out of the water after just over twenty minutes. The Girondins took advantage of a foul in the area of a still impressive Wesley Fofana to get a penalty, converted by Nicolas De Préville (1-1, 28 ‘). This is the third conceded by ASSE in preparation, after Rumilly-Vallières and Anderlecht. The Foréziens, however, much better physically and globally dominant are even on the verge of being led but the post deprives the Bordeaux number 12 of the double (38th).
Six goals in preparation for Abi
In the second half, eleven new players including Saidou Sow (18) and Setigui Karamoko (20) in central defense made their entry. And as in the first act, these Greens were also in a hurry. Romain Hamouma forces Benoît Costil to push back his shot for a corner before taking on the corner kick himself, placed on the head of Charles Abi (3-1, 47th). About twenty-five minutes later, the duo reform. Again with Romain Hamouma, armband on his arm, passing, for Charles Abi’s sixth goal since the start of the preparation (4-1, 71st). In his distance duel with Jean-Philippe Krasso, timid during the first half, the ASSE-trained center forward scored points. Defensively, Stefan Bajic is not really in demand, shivering on an attempt by Alexandre Mendy (79th) and a missed exit (86th). He must still bow at the very end of the game, in front of Alexandre Mendy (90 ‘+ 2). Not enough to spoil the party for consistent and serious Stéphanois throughout the game.