Following a shaky start to the season, AS Saint-Etienne would be hoping to register a win against the struggling AS Nancy Lorraine on Friday
Le Verts play host to Les Chardons, who are currently 19th in the league after 7 games, and the hosts would want to win this game in order to get back into the upper half of the table ahead of the rest of the weekend’s matches.
Things aren’t looking well for Christophe Galtier’s side at the moment with the French club winning only once in their last six Ligue 1 outings. However, the match against Nancy has provided the club from eastern central http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/France-c2899 with an opportunity to get
back to winning ways.
Coach, Christophe Galtier is optimistic about his side’s chances of getting maximum points on Friday, and has urged his players to play without fear against Nancy.
While talking to reporters ahead of the game, the 46-year-old stated that Saint-Etienne have been really unlucky this season, and they need to get back to winning ways as early as possible.
"We need to start picking up points, but we should continue playing the same way we have been, and with the same spirit. It is up to us to start putting the ball in the net. If we maintain the same will to win and score goals, then we will be compensated
for our efforts. Eventually things will start smiling for us. We need results but the desire to do so should not stop us from playing."
Nancy have started the 2012/2013 Ligue 1 campaign in a worst possible manner with only four points after 7 games. The visitors haven’t won since the opening day of the campaign, and have lost six games in a row in all competitions.
However, Les Chardons player, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jonathan-Brison-c19008 is confident that his side will soon find the winning formula, and has asked his teammates to play to their potential on Friday if they want to get something out of that game.
"Nancy are defensively disciplined. I know that they will come to defend. They will be ready, so it's up to us to compete and play to our strengths."
History
Saint-Etienne have hosted Nancy 24 times in the French top division winning 17 of those games. Les Chardons have won only thrice at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard while four games have ended in a draw.
Team News
AS Saint-Etienne
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jean-Pascal-Mignot-c18216 will miss the match after injuring his thigh.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Banel-Nicolita-c7284 are still on the sidelines after failing to recover in time for the Nancy game.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/AS-Nancy-c38468 Lorraine
The visitors will be without defender, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Helder-Ferreira-c15999, who is suspended for the match.
Romain Grange won’t take any part in the game after aggravating his thigh injury and Fouad Rachid is also sidelined.
Prediction
AS Saint-Etienne are France’s most successful club with ten Ligue 1 titles and six French Cups. And despite Les Verts not in the best of the forms at the moment, the hosts are expected to win the match on Friday.
Nancy look like a team who are lacking in confidence at the moment, and it would be hard for the visitors to give Christophe Galtier’s side a hard time at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
Final Predicted Score: AS Saint-Etienne 2-0 AS Nancy Lorraine
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