The AS Saint-Étienne won a convincing 4-0 win over Rodez on the second day of Ligue 2, after a tough match against Laval. The Greens posted a sharper offensive animation, with goals from Joshua Duffus, Mahmoud Jaber, Irvin Cardona and Zuriko Davitashvili. The team, led by its new recruits, was able to realize its opportunities and win with the way, thus strengthening its status as a home favourite. This victory is seen as a clear message to their competitors, indicating that the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium must become a fortress again.

The coaches of both teams expressed their impressions after the game. Rodez coach Didier Santini stressed the lack of rigour and concentration of his team after the break, regretting a disruption that allowed Saint-Étienne to take control of the game. He recognized Saint-Étienne’s offensive quality and the potential impact of his workforce, while noting a lack of maturity and fidelity to their values. Eirik Horneland, coach of Saint-Étienne, praised the seriousness of his team and the performance of Mahmoud Jaber, while stressing the importance for players to achieve their best physical level. He also highlighted the team’s development potential and Jaber’s enthusiasm after his injury.

The players from Saint-Étienne also commented on the victory. Irvin Cardona stressed the team’s spirit of revenge and the importance of cohesion for success. He expressed his desire to make goals a habit and reaffirmed the goal of the team: to go back to League 1. Aïmen Moueffek highlighted the will and ambition of the players, as well as the satisfaction of seeing Mahmoud Jaber score in his first home game. This victory opens a positive chapter for the Saint-Étienne season, with a first home victory and a calm preparation for the next match in Bologna-sur-Mer.