Angers to continue push for European places
Friday evening in Ligue 1 sees the green and white of lowly Saint-Étienne come up against an Angers outfit that have had two very distinctive traits in 2020/2021 - bulldozing the also-rans of the top tier of France's domestic pyramid, and being in turn bulldozed by the cream of the crop. Fortunately for the visitors to the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, their hosts fall into the former category, and should serve as a springboard into the top five, even if only temporarily. Read our preview here:
Anti-Santa Claude
It's fair to say it hasn't gone to plan for well-travelled head coach Claude Puel since taking over Les Verts in July 2019. Surprise appearance in the final of the Coupe de France aside, he led them to a 17th-placed 'finish' before the global pandemic halted football. This term, they raced out of the blocks with three wins from the opening matches, but have completely fallen apart since, enduring a wretched run of defeats in the process. That has been halted in the past two games, even whilst goals have still been in short supply. The once reliable experienced pairing of Romain Hamouma and Wahbi Khazri have faltered, and only the youthful poise and promise of 18 year-old left-winger Adil Aouchiche can be proffered as any kind of highlight this season. The conventional 4-4-2 shape has proven to be predictable to set up against, especially down the flanks.
We're going to SCO one more than you
On the other hand, Les Scoïstes enjoy first and foremost working the ball up the wide spaces, and are aided in no small way doing that by the less central members of the attacking midfield triumvirate. The versatility of Sofiane Boufal and Mathias Pereira Lage will help in no small way to stretch their opponents horizontally, creating space for the runners from behind to steam into. Lone frontman Stéphane Bahoken shuns the stereotype of what's required from such a role. Comparatively weak in the air and at holding onto the ball, he contributes in the build-up phases of play like a conventional target man would, but with the agility of a more lithe striker. The greater angles that exist in the formation of choice for long-time manager Stéphane Moulin help to create lots of scoring opportunities for the men in black and white, and they're unafraid to have a go from distance if impeded by a low block.
Moulin Rouge
When the high press is on them, Angers can struggle badly. That is almost certain not to be the case on Friday evening, and they ought to take advantage of their accommodating, gracious hosts. Betfair are offering odds of 2.70 for an away win that would take them to within three points of Paris Saint-Germain, even if only for 24 hours.
