The AS Saint-Étienne concluded its summer preparation with a prestigious friendly match against Cagliari Calcio, as part of the Luigi Riva Trophy, a symbolic event in tribute to the legend of Italian football. This meeting, one week from the beginning of the BKT 2 League championship, represented an important opportunity for Eirik Horneland to assess the progress of his team and galvanize the confidence of the players before the recovery. After a complicated start to the game, the team gradually stabilized, although it lacked realism in the offensive phase. Maxime Bernauer’s injury, forced to leave the field at the beginning of the meeting, added a note of concern to this preparation, recalling the recent injuries that have already weakened the staff of St.

The game against Cagliari revealed the continued difficulties of ASSE in realising its possessions and overcoming a well-organized Italian defense. Despite better control of the ball in the second period, the Greens struggled to find offensive solutions, encountering a team of Serie A capable of exploiting the spaces left by the Stéphanois defense. Cardona’s missed opportunity at the end of the first half and the inability to return to the score point to a lack of efficiency and automation that require significant adjustments before the season begins. Bernauer’s potential absence could further complicate the task of the technical staff, already faced with a small number of staff following several departures.

This summer preparation campaign was marked by ups and downs, starting with an encouraging victory against the Carouge Star, followed by a minimal success against Troyes. However, the heavy defeat against the Paris FC highlighted a lack of responsiveness and defensive strength. The game against Cagliari, though symbolic, allowed to observe the team in a competitive context and test new players like Joshua Duffuss. This meeting, which resulted in a 1-0 defeat, highlights the need for ASSE to continue its adjustments and strengthen its strength before the start of the championship, while honouring the memory of a football legend.