The Derbies are separate matches. The adage has perhaps never taken as much meaning as this season and for this return match of the 21st day of Ligue 1. Between the two “best enemies” of French football, the part which advances has not escaped the Covid-19 pandemic. And it was on Saint-Étienne that the play fell on the wrong side. Seven players will be absent this Sunday on the Stéphanois side because of the coronavirus (Bajic, Green, Silva, Debuchy, Moukoudi, Monnet-Paquet and Souici) and there is a strong question about the physical level of the players who are returning after being tested. positive since January 12 (Kolodziejczak, Youssouf, Bouanga, Abi and Hamouma).
Youth in the banner
As against Strasbourg, Claude Puel should still draw from the pool of the Saint-Etienne formation to concoct his eleven. The general manager of the Greens, also affected by the virus and absent in Strasbourg, is back to business: “We experience special things but that should not destabilize us. I like to see a group that responds and does not let go. We want more points. It is not enough to perform well. A derby is all the more motivating. And that would do a lot of good“.
An extraordinary desire – Mahdi Camara
16th in the standings (and perhaps 17th if Nantes won in Metz this Sunday afternoon), AS Saint-Étienne can no longer afford the luxury of playing well without having an accounting impact. its season. In a Geoffroy-Guichard behind closed doors, the Greens will not be able to count on their twelfth man, but they will rely on their youth to defend the local colors against the Lyon neighbor. “We are club kids hammers ASSE midfielder Mahdi Camara. We really know what the derby represents. We’ve been living this since we were very young. My derbies as a youngster are incredible memories and it gives you an extraordinary desire “.
The group: first for Boubacar Fall
Present in Strasbourg, goalkeeper Boubacar Fall, who arrived at AS Saint-Étienne in early January was not on the scoresheet because he was not qualified. This is now done for the Senegalese who, at the height of his 19 years and his 1.98m, will be the number 2 goalkeeper behind Jessy Moulin. ASSE also records the return of Yvan Neyou but still has to do without his injured Panos Retsos, Wahbi Khazri and Yvann Maçon.
Absentees also in Lyon
For this derby, Olympique Lyonnais will have to do without his revelation of the season Lucas Paqueta. The Brazilian midfielder is suspended for accumulation of yellow cards. Maxwell Cornet and Houssem Aouar are fixed for muscle problems.
- The derby is to be experienced live and in full on France Bleu Saint-Étienne Loire from 8:30 p.m. this Sunday.