Congolese defender Kévin Pedro starts for AS Saint-Étienne against Laval this Saturday 7 November at 8pm in Ligue 2, while Abdellah Baallal stays on the bench. The Greens need a response after their 3-0 defeat at Guingamp.
Ian Cathro, the Saint-Étienne coach, has made his call: Kévin Pedro will be on the Geoffroy-Guichard pitch for the visit of Laval, Saturday 7 November at 8pm, in Ligue 2. The defender is in the starting eleven, according to the line-up revealed by OneFootball, while Abdellah Baallal takes a place on the bench.
The context is far from trivial for ASSE, who are coming off a 3-0 defeat at Guingamp and play under pressure in front of their own fans. The Greens must respond at home, against an opponent they have never beaten by that score.
A starting eleven without Svetlin or Larsonneur
Pedro’s inclusion comes in a squad still without Tamar Svetlin and Gautier Larsonneur, both absent. Mahmoud Jaber and Chico Lamba are improving, and Irvin Cardona is fully available to Cathro.
For Laval, the absences also weigh heavily: Trévis Dago and backup goalkeeper Mamadou Samassa have been injured since this week. Striker Abou Kanté, who came off with a calf problem against Boulogne, remains doubtful, according to Peuple Vert.
The numbers favour the Greens
On paper, history favours Saint-Étienne. ASSE have never lost at home to Laval in Ligue 2: across nine meetings, they have seven wins and two draws. This season, the Greens have also won all five of their league matches at home, a record that contrasts with their last outing at Guingamp.
After that defeat, Ian Cathro dismissed both fatigue and complacency as explanations. He simply spoke of a day when little worked, a reading that the home numbers seem to confirm.
A closed Kop Nord, pressure intact
The atmosphere will not be at full strength: the LFP disciplinary commission ordered a three-match partial closure of the Kop Nord, after mass flares against Nantes. Reduced support for the Greens, who must nevertheless deliver at home.
The visit of Laval is Ligue 2’s next fixture before the November international break, then the Coupe de France, which will interrupt the rhythm of the league.