Sochaux claimed a 2:1 victory over Neuchâtel Xamax in a Club Friendly on Thursday afternoon. The result came at a time when both sides were looking for rhythm ahead of the competitive season. For Sochaux it extended an unbeaten run to five matches. Neuchâtel's streak of poor form continued.
Sochaux have been difficult to beat recently. They drew with Laval and Pau, kept clean sheets against Nantes and Guingamp, and held Clermont to a goalless stalemate. There was no dramatic shift in their approach. The line has barely moved under their current setup.
Neuchâtel Xamax arrived with a different story. Four defeats in five outings offered little comfort. They lost heavily to Rapperswil and Winterthur, while also falling to Zurich and Yverdon. The wheels came off in quick succession and the club is on the brink of a move.
The scoreline told a straightforward tale without the usual drama of a competitive fixture. Sochaux took the lead and held firm through a second half where they tightened things up. Neuchâtel pulled one back but could not find an equaliser. The crowd roared them on but the visitors lacked the cutting edge.
What the result means remains to be seen. Friendlies rarely carry permanent weight, but the contrast in form was stark. Sochaux are unbeaten in five and have shown stability. Neuchâtel have yet to string two positive results together. The gap between them is clear for now.
