Most Ligue 2 clubs resumed training, entering an intensive physical preparation phase before the start of the championship on August 8. The AS Saint-Étienne, under the direction of Eirik Horneland, began its summer preparation on June 19 with an internship at L’Étrat, followed by a longer internship in Chambon-sur-Lignon from June 29 to July 5, including a friendly match against the Star Carouge FC. A further preparation period is planned for Aix-les-Bains from 16 to 25 July. The friendly match schedule is busy, with scheduled meetings against national and international teams, including a closed match against ESTAC Troyes on July 12 broadcast on ASSE.TV.

The preparation of the ASSE includes several phases of intensification, culminating with matches against the Servette Geneva on 18 July, the Paris FC on 25 July, and finally against Cagliari in Sardinia on 2 August. These meetings are used to assess the shape of the team and gradually adapt it to the intensity of the championship. Beyond these matches, Ligue 2 clubs have a dense schedule until August 2, with many scheduled matches.

The complete schedule of ASSE’s friendly matches reveals a variety of opponents, ranging from Ligue 1 clubs such as LOSC, Paris FC, AJ Auxerre, RC Lens, and FC Nantes, to National, National 2, and even European clubs such as Servette Genève, Eibar, Real Sociedad, and Cagliari. These friendly games, spread over several weeks in July and August, are essential to fine-tune the game strategy, test different team compositions and prepare for the finish of the championship.