French Ligue 1 preview: FC Lorient Vs AS Saint-Etienne
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Lorient-c39153 play host to AS Saint-Etienne at the Stade du Moustoir in the week 6 of the 2011/2012 Ligue 1 campaign.
Les Merlus are currently eight in the Ligue 1 standings with eight points from eight games and following a 1-1 draw with Sochaux last weekend, coach Christian Gourcuff would be looking to add extra pressure to a Saint-Etienne side that lost 3-1 at home to
champions Lille last weekend.
Strong against Greens
Les Merlus have a good record at home against Lille and Gourcuff would be hoping that this particular stat comes to aid of his team. However, the French tactician is not taking things lightly and has asked the players not to underestimate Les Verts.
“What we lack is the intensity which always makes up for quality and efficiency. We have to make up for the match against Sochaux and win tonight,” the Lorient boss was quoted saying while talking to media in a pre-game press conference.
Former Lorient winger http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lynel-Kitambala-c22973 would be making a return to his former club when Saint-Etienne face Lorient. les Merlus president Loic Fery was all praises for the 22-year-old and wished his former player all the best in his future.
“I have a lot of affection for Lynel Kitambala. He wanted to leave because he wasn’t playing enough and his departure was a good deal for the club. I think he will do well at ASSE and I hope that one day I will have the pleasure of seeing him play in the
Premier League,” the Lorient supremo said while talking to http://www.fclweb.fr/.
Tough times yet again
Saint-Etienne started the new campaign brightly after winning their first two league games. however, since the two wins, Les Verts have drawn one game and lost two consecutive matches.
Coach Christophe Galtier has said that he will give no excuses for his side’s recent poor run of form. While talking to the media, the French tactician said that he will not hide behind excuses after his tea,’s failures.
Les Verts lost 3-1 at home to champions Lille last weekend. Loris Nery was sent off in the first half and two goals by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Eden-Hazard-c11863 and one by substitute Obraniak gave Les Dogues three points at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
Galtier admitted that his side was not good enough in some areas and deserved to lose against Lille. While talking to the media, the Frenchman said, “We are desperate to make up for the points we lost at home. For that, we have to defend well and especially
play much better in attack and use the ball better.”
Team news
Lorient
Les Merlus have a long list of injuries which means that the squad would definitely be tested to their limits in the coming weeks of Ligue 1. Tristan Do (knee) http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mathieu-Coutadeur-c24681 (thigh) and Florent Chaigneau (back) are all going to miss the game due to injuries
Saint-Etienne
Les Verts on the other hand are already missing http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Albin-Ebondo-c4350 through injuries. Sinama-Pongolle on the other hand is a major doubt but might play the game with a cast on his hand.
Predictions
Galtier is clearly angry at his side’s failure to defend well and might be worried about his team’s recent poor history at Stade http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Du-c11689 Moustoir. Lorient on the other hand played well against Sochaux last weekend and after making a good start to the season,
les Merlus might inflict another loss on Les Verts.
Predicted final score: Lorient 1-0 Saint-Etienne
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