Ligue 2: Rodez already under pressure before receiving promoted Annecy
The RAF has still not won since the resumption of Ligue 2. Victory against Annecy is now imperative.
“The Piton confronts the Venice of the Alps”. This is how Rodez Aveyron Football sells the Annecy reception on its website. This evening’s poster, paying for the 4th day of Ligue 2, thus seems attractive. But in reality, it’s already a game of fear that awaits the Ruthenians, very (too?) early in the season. And for good reason, these are two teams in bad shape who will face each other at the Paul-Lignon stadium.
Annecy is indeed penultimate in the championship, with 3 defeats in as many matches. Opposite, Rodez does not do much better. The RAF have still not had a victory this season, with a draw to start and then two consecutive defeats. And according to Ruthenian midfielder Bradley Danger, the stinging setback (0-3, August 6) failed by Bordeaux at Lignon is still on everyone’s mind: “Facing Annecy, we want to redeem ourselves from the first game in This is why we have worked all this week on our principles by quickly integrating our recruits into these values”.
Three recruits in one week
Because yes, Rodez, after a late start to the transfer window, has strengthened in recent days. Since the last defeat in Nîmes (0-1, August 13), 3 recruits have landed on the Piton: a defender, the Frenchman Marvin Senaya (21, on loan for 1 year from Strasbourg) and especially two attackers, the South Korean Park (28 years old, arrived free) and the Frenchman Andy Pembélé (loaned for 1 year by Paris FC). Necessary attacking reinforcements because the RAF have still not found the net this season. In addition, it will be necessary to compensate for the absence on the front of the attack of Joseph Mendes, victim of a malaise on Wednesday in training and transported to the hospital in stride. The Guinean will logically be unavailable against the Haut-Savoyards, but his coach Laurent Peyrelade wanted to be reassuring yesterday, at a press conference.
The tactician, who can count on the feedback of his defenders Bardy (suspension) and Chougrani (injury), was even surprisingly positive: “It’s a match that will be very pleasant to watch. We have young people at the listening, very dynamic, very fresh, and who work well”. What is missing then? “We need to be more effective offensively and more focused while keeping our principles and our block,” continued Peyrelade. Sine qua non conditions to finally win and get out of the red zone. In a season with four National descents, it becomes urgent.
The group for RAF-Annecy
Cibois, Mpasi – Bardy, Ouammou, Raux-Yao, Senaya, Chougrani, Mouyokolo, Abdallah, Coelho – Boissier, Rajot, Danger, Valerio – Jung-Bin, Corredor, Kutateladze, Pembele, Depres, Far.