Saint Etienne 5-0 Amiens: Ligue 2 2025-26 match report

Saint-Étienne delivered a statement performance at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on Sunday, dismantling Amiens 5-0 in a clinical display of attacking football. Under the guidance of Philippe Montanier, the home side exploited the defensive vulnerabilities of Julien Ielsch’s 3-4-1-2 setup, maintaining control from the opening whistle until the final minute.

The opening

Saint-Étienne’s tactical approach, anchored in a 4-2-3-1 formation, allowed them to dominate the wide areas early on. The breakthrough arrived in the 7th minute when J. Duffus found the back of the net, capitalizing on a well-timed assist from L. Stassin. This early goal forced Amiens to chase the game, but the visitors struggled to find rhythm against a disciplined Saint-Étienne press.

As the half progressed, the physical nature of the contest became apparent, with N. Kandil receiving a yellow card for Amiens in the 21st minute, followed shortly by a caution for Saint-Étienne’s A. Boakye in the 28th. Despite the midfield congestion, Saint-Étienne remained the more dangerous side. Their persistence was rewarded in the 40th minute when Duffus doubled his tally for the afternoon, again assisted by Stassin. Entering the interval with a two-goal cushion, Saint-Étienne had effectively nullified the threat posed by Amiens’ wing-back system, forcing the visitors to defend deep for long stretches.

The decisive moment

The second half saw Saint-Étienne maintain their intensity despite a series of substitutions intended to manage player fatigue. While Amiens attempted to reorganize by introducing Y. Rafii in the 59th minute, the tactical shift failed to stem the tide.

The match effectively ended as a contest in the 69th minute. Z. Davitashvili, who had been a constant nuisance to the Amiens backline, scored the third goal of the match following another assist from the prolific Stassin. This goal forced a flurry of changes from Ielsch, but the momentum remained firmly with the hosts.

The final ten minutes showcased Saint-Étienne’s depth and clinical finishing. L. Stassin, who had been instrumental as a provider throughout the match, added his name to the scoresheet in the 82nd minute after being set up by B. Old. The rout was completed in the 85th minute when A. Moueffek converted a pass from Davitashvili to make it 5-0. The scoreline reflected a significant disparity in execution, as Saint-Étienne successfully transitioned from defensive stability to rapid, efficient counter-attacking play, leaving the Amiens defense struggling to track runners in the final third.

Looking ahead

For Saint-Étienne, this emphatic victory reinforces their standing in the Ligue 2 table and provides significant momentum as the season approaches its conclusion. Conversely, the heavy defeat leaves Amiens with critical questions to answer regarding their defensive structure and ability to compete against high-pressing opponents.