AS Saint-Étienne face Nîmes Olympique this Sunday on Matchday 31 of Ligue 1. Unless Claude Puel is surprised, a nugget from ASSE will make his professional debut with the Greens.
Returns and several absences for ASSE
Beaten at Geoffroy-Guichard (0-4) on their last outing, AS Saint-Étienne will try to raise their heads on Sunday. ASSE will face Nîmes Olympique, another contender contender, at the Stade des Costières. For this poster of the 31st day of Ligue 1, Claude Puel records the return of Romain Hamouma after almost two months of absence. The Greens coach will also be able to count on Harold Moukoudi, Adil Aouchiche and Arnaud Nordin. The latter two had tested positive for Covid-19 and were forfeited against AS Monaco on the final day. On the other hand, the Loire club will be deprived of Panagiostis Retsos, Timothée Kolodziejczak, Ryad Boudebouz, Maxence Rivera and Yvann Maçon. Rarely, Claude Puel has only one of his three professional squad keepers.
Baptism of fire in sight for Green in Costières
ASSE will still be deprived of its titular doorman Jessy Moulin. Absent against Monaco due to the coronavirus, the Saint-Etienne goalkeeper is forfeited this time due to an hamstring injury. Usual mill lining, Stefan Bajic is also on the flank with an ankle injury. In their absence, it is Etienne Green, third in the hierarchy at this position, which should defend the Stéphane cages. It will then be the first professional meeting of the 20-year-old goalkeeper trained in Saint-Étienne. Besides Green, Claude Puel also summoned the young Nabil Ouennas (17 years old) and Bangaly Sylla (18 years old).
Saint-Étienne’s group against Nîmes:
Green, Ouennas, Sylla – Moukoudi, Cissé, Silva, Trauco, Debuchy, Sow – Camara, Aouchiche, Neyou, Youssouf, Gourna, Moueffek – Abi, Khazri, Modeste, Nordin, Bouanga, Hamouma, Monnet-Paquet.