Saint-Étienne 3-0 Sochaux
Saint-Étienne opened their Ligue 2 campaign with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Sochaux at the Stade Marcel Saupin on Saturday evening. The visitors took control early, with Jacob Breum putting them ahead in the 22nd minute before Irwin Cardona doubled the lead just six minutes later. By then the tone had been set for what would be a straightforward afternoon for the league leaders.
Sochaux created nothing in the opening exchanges, and Saint-Étienne's efficiency proved decisive. Breum's strike found the bottom corner after a quick transition, while Cardona's finish came from a well-worked move that left the home defence exposed. The visitors were second to nothing in those crucial moments, and here's the thing — it wasn't about possession.
Sochaux held 53 per cent of the ball but could not convert it into meaningful chances. They registered nine shots with only two on target, and big chances created stood at zero. Saint-Étienne, by contrast, produced 13 attempts with seven on target and created four clear opportunities. To be fair, Sochaux had their moments in midfield, completing 423 passes compared to their opponents' 390.
The substitutions told their own story of a comfortable away side. Saint-Étienne brought on Augustin Boakye for the second half, followed by Kevin Djoco in the 62nd minute, while Irwin Cardona came off after his goal contribution. Sochaux made seven changes across the second period, including M'Bala Ndongala and D. Gomis, as they searched for something to change the complexion of the game.
Sochaux's recent form offered some context for the result. They had drawn with Auxerre on 1 August but lost three of their previous four matches, including a heavy 3-0 defeat to Dijon. Saint-Étienne arrived with momentum, having won four of their last five games including a 4-3 thriller against Venezia. The gap between them in the table reflected that disparity.
The standings now show Saint-Étienne top of Ligue 2 with 15 points from five games, while Sochaux sit ninth with six. The visitors have not dropped points all season, and this victory extended their unbeaten run. Breum received a yellow card in the 66th minute, but otherwise the match proceeded without major incidents. The visitors will take confidence from their performance, even if the statistics suggest Sochaux controlled large portions of the encounter.