the Greens have two big challenges to face up to the World Cup

Long the international break for the AXIS after the defeat against Guingamp (1-2). The Greens provided it by doing an internship near the Haute Loire so dear to Roland Romeyer, in Chambon-sur-Lignon, for a short stay where the cohesion of the group was at the center of every attention. Laurent Batlles varied the pleasures with training, table tennis, petanque, barbecue, paintball … All in conditions praised by the entire delegation of Saint-Etienne, always so pampered by Guillaume Chazot, the owner of the Bel Horizon, former youth AXIS player.

20,000 spectators expected against Grenoble

But serious things will resume for the Greens on Saturday with the reception in Grenoble. A “small derby” that should attract people for the return of the public to Geoffroy-Guichard as 20,000 spectators are expected, including 500 residents in Grenoble, even if the southern kop is still closed. The match will be an opportunity for the rookies to tread the Calderone lawn if not behind closed doors, but Jimmy Giraudon, disqualified, will miss the call. In the absence of him, it is Anthony Briançon who should impose himself at the center of the green defense, in the role occupied by the former Trojan. Léo Petrot, Mickaël Nadé and Abdoulaye Bakayoko are in balance to complete the three-way hinge, within a rear guard that will need to be more airtight than it has been so far. With 17 goals conceded in 9 games, the AXIS presents the 19th defense of L2, only the red lantern, Niort, to have done worse (18 goals conceded). Among the unknowns of this meeting is the position of goalkeeper, where Batlles will have to decide between Etienne Green, sent off during the last two games as a starter, and Matthieu Dreyer, decisive against Bordeaux (2-0) but struggling at Guingamp. .. Roudourou’s defeat hurts. The ACE was unbeaten in four consecutive games (2 draws, 2 wins), had just beaten the leaders of Bordeaux. But as in Pau (2-2) after the victory against Bastia (5-0), he has not confirmed in Brittany and is in a relegation position that will appear against Grenoble on Saturday, in front of an audience that will have to win back after his descent into L2 and take with him. What the Greens of Claude Puel and Pascal Dupraz had done so little in recent seasons. In this particular fiscal year 2022-23, with the World Cup in Qatar, there are only 6 games left before a one and a half month hiatus, between 12 November and 26 December. AXIS will host Grenoble, Paris FC and Rodez. He will travel to Sochaux, Amiens and Metz. With the aim of getting out of the red zone and finding a ranking more worthy of its rank.

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