ASSE prepares for a crucial derby against Lyon

Saint-Étienne faced Lyon this Sunday evening in a match on the 30th day of Ligue 1, a major confrontation for the Greens. The stakes are important: a victory could allow the Stéphanois to get closer to Le Havre in the standings.

Eirik Horneland, coach of ASSE, has to deal with several absences for this 126th derby. Benjamin Bouchouari and Augustine Boakye are currently at the centre of the infirmary, the Moroccan suffering from back pain and potentially absent until the end of the season. Yvann Mason is also a package, suspended following an accumulation of yellow cards.

Despite initial uncertainties about Irvin Cardona and Lucas Stassin, both players were able to re-enter the group. Pierre Cornud, close to a return after his injury, remains unavailable.

Gautier Larsonneur, ASSE’s number one goalkeeper, will be well present in the goals, unlike OL. Dennis Appiah should chain to the left of the defense, taking advantage of Mason’s suspension. Maxime Bernauer and Mickaël Nadé should compose the defensive axis, while Léo Pérot will provide the left corridor.

Eirik Horneland should align Pierre Ekwah in low point of the midfield trio, with Florian Tardieu and Aimen Moueffek, in the absence of Bouchouri. The former Troyen notably made a decisive pass for the goal of Irvin Cardona in the match against Brest.

Irvin Cardona, author of a double against his former club, should again be titularized. Zuriko Davitashvili, despite a lead that hit the bar, will have to show more success. Lucas Stassin, for his part, will start at the point of the attack, after having scored his 10th goal in Ligue 1 this season.