Football: Roam in Geoffroy-Guichard’s cauldron like at home…

Lorenzo Rajot et les Ruthénois avaient refroidi le Chaudron, le 10 mai dernier. MAXPPP – Charly JURINE Pro

Les Ruthénois, en pleine confiance, jouent, ce vendredi 24 mai à 20 h 30, leur qualification pour les barrages pour la montée en L1, à Saint-Étienne, face à un adversaire en plein doute et qui lui réussit bien.

It should be David versus Goliath, the small versus the big. How could it be otherwise when the second most successful club in France meets the one which has a National championship title and a Coupe de France semi-final to its credits ? When the third budget of the division (27 M€) meets the sixteenth (8 €) ? With a sold-out stadium that was filled with 30 000 spectators in a few hours facing an opposing field of 1,000 people.

But there is the reality on the ground and in this aspect, Rodez will appear as a virtual favorite in Saint-Étienne. Because the Ruthenois are on an incredible dynamic with four victories in the last six matches of the Ligue 2 season which allowed them to compete in the play-offs even though they were promised to play for survival. In this good series which allowed the men of coach Didier Santini to gain confidence, there were successes against the champion Auxerre (2-0), the other play-off player Paris FC (1-0 ) but also a draw at … Saint-Etienne (1-1).

Five matches without defeat against the Greens

A meeting which symbolized the end of the season for the Stéphanois. Feverish, paralyzed by the stakes and the pressure, the Greens, who had nevertheless opened the score, were never able to drive the point home and the RAF logically equalized in the last quarter of an hour through Lorenzo Rajot on a shot deflected by a defender. This draw confirmed Rodez's position in the play-offs and buried ASSE's hopes of a direct rise.

Who, behind, was beaten at Quevilly-Rouen (2-1) while the Norman club was already relegated to the National. For his part, Rodez ended the season with a success against Ajaccio (2-0) and his incredible qualification on Tuesday against Paris FC (2-2, 3-2 tab) after missing his first three attempts. "We experienced very strong emotions this Tuesday, but I told my players to switch quickly, to be ready tomorrow (this Friday, Editor's note)" , indicates coach Didier Santini.

What can now happen to his team knowing in addition that it comes to Geoffroy-Guichard undefeated at the Chaudron in three matches and overall in its last five matches ? "Beating Paris FC, it’was a huge challenge, going to win at Saint-Etienne, it will be even bigger", assures the Raf coach who is ready to relive another penalty shootout. "I asked those who missed their shot on goal if they were ready to withdraw, they told me yes. So I told them that I trusted them and that they could withdraw whenever they wanted."

The RAF will play its game

Human and above all positive management which also applies to his Saint-Etienne alter ego Olivier Dall’Oglio. "Rodez has nothing to lose, we do ? We have to leave that, concentrate on our team" , evacuated the Greens coach who sees "this play-off" as "a cup match. We prepare differently. It will take determination and boldness."

Everything that Saint-Etienne has lacked in recent times and which the RAF has demonstrated which, whatever ODO says, will play without pressure. & quot;We are Rodez, we must play with our strengths and our principles as we have been doing since the start of the season, claims Didier Santini.

This has worked well for them so far because you don't achieve a championship like that by chance. For the RAF, all the lights are green.

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