Caution is required on the side of theASSE, who suffered the defeat Sunday against FC Lorient (1-2) at Moustoir, while leading in score. The Greens are still not out of the woods in Ligue 1, with a sixteenth place, five points from Nîmes, play-off, and six from FC Nantes, relegation. And Wednesday (7 p.m.) is the RC Lens which appears at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium, and the task promises to be difficult for Claude Puel’s players against one of the teams in form of the season. And the Sang et Or have warned, they are coming to Saint-Etienne to win and nothing else.
End of a good series for ASSE
After five matches without defeat, including a great victory at Stade Rennais (2-0), ASSE lost against FC Lorient (1-2), Sunday, on the 27th day of League 1. A stop against a competitor for maintenance, while the Greens seemed to have the game in hand. “Our unbeaten streak was interesting, but we knew it was going to be a tough game. We will have to fight until the end. We have to react at home against Lens from Wednesday. Just because you’re in a good show doesn’t automatically mean everything is beautiful and you can decompress. Today, we shouldn’t over-dramatize either. Let us remain measured in victory as in defeat. I regret this result for our supporters, but we should not underestimate our opponents. The Lorientans beat Paris and deserved to win in Nîmes. We lost this round but there are still others, “said the coach of AS Saint-Etienne, Claude Puel, after the meeting against the Merlus.
RC Lens invincible away
And on Wednesday, we will also have to roll up our sleeves on the ASSE side. Because it is the RC Lens, astonishing sixth, who arrives in Forez with a series of six games without defeat away from home in all competitions. Led by two goals in the tenth minute in Angers, the players of Franck Haise managed to snatch the draw (2-2), thanks to a goal from Arnaud Kalimuendo in the 92nd minute. “This proves once again our state of mind which allows us not to let go, had remarked Florian Sotoca, Lensois striker, after the match against the SCO. We take avoidable goals against the course of the game. It happens and we were able to re-mobilize to score the goal of 2-1. We opened up to come back. We deserve this point. If we score before, there is room to win. The series continues outside. There is joy in life in the group, now we hope to win Wednesday in Saint-Etienne. “ASSE is warned, the Lensois came for the three points. With 30 points, Sainté remains under threat from the zone red, but is also only three points behind the Girondins de Bordeaux, who are in 11. The ranks are tight and each point would now be important for maintenance.
By Matthew