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Hello friends ! please read the press revieuw today: National League: "Nothing will be spared us," defeats, points deducted, a bad week in Valenciennes Beaten after largely dominating Orléans on Saturday, Valenciennes concluded a complicated week in many respects, marked by the loss of a point in the standings due to a forfeit. Stéphane Moulin struggled to find the right words, Rémy Boissier resigned himself to "spending another two days brooding," while Jean Louchet sighed with helplessness. "We could replay this match ten times, we wouldn't lose it," raged the northern goalkeeper. Against Orléans, the Valenciennes players were hit hard by the cruelty that football can sometimes be capable of: despite a flurry of chances and the legitimate feeling of having done everything right, except for being clinical, they must now cope with the immense frustration of a defeat. This could have been just another frustrating match if this defeat hadn't capped off an already unpleasant week, a far cry from the festive atmosphere surrounding the game celebrating the 25th anniversary of the first Yaris to roll off the Toyota assembly line in Onnaing. Seven dark days began in Le Puy a week earlier, where Valenciennes suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat after conceding an improbable goal just before halftime. And then, as is often the case with Valenciennes, off-field issues intruded: seven weeks after the incidents during the match against Sochaux, the club paid a heavy price for the outburst of anger from some of its supporters who had gathered around the pitch, preventing the game from being completed. After a very long wait, living with a sword of Damocles hanging over their heads, Valenciennes (VA) lost the match (3-0) and had a point deducted from their league position. While the club is considering appealing this decision, at the risk of a harsher penalty, putting this episode behind them and accepting the new standings to look ahead is undoubtedly the least bad option. "We're going to have no luck this year, I've understood that for a while now. I've never experienced anything like this, we never get that little bit of luck that comes our way." Stéphane Moulin, VAFC coach Terrible weather "We're having a week where we're down to minus one," laments Stéphane Moulin. "We're going to have no luck this year, I've understood that for a while now. I've never experienced anything like this, we never get that little bit of luck that comes our way." The Valenciennes coach doesn't know the half of it: one day at a time, but a week has seven, and the second blow came on Friday with the release of a video by YouTuber Romain Molina, who launched a scathing attack on the club's management. More than the content itself, it mainly confirmed a well-known situation: there's a lot of backstabbing going on internally, and the atmosphere, certainly not helped by the team's results, is particularly toxic between the various factions within the club. All of this is quite far removed from the pitch and all the positive aspects, notably Bryan Passi's contribution in the air, which could have been highlighted in the match against Orléans, a match that capped off a very unpleasant week. But when the tide isn't turning... "I just want to be in Rouen to play another match," Jean Louchet said before leaving Hainaut. That's probably the best thing to do.

Well... It's been a difficult week right to the end... I couldn't go to the stadium and didn't see the match, but unfortunately we lost again tonight... Valenciennes 0-1 Orleans...

I'm going to be honest and sincere with you, my friends. I would be lying if I told you that I had a great week. Between the heavy defeat at Le Puy, the penalty following the invasion of the pitch by around thirty supporters (match lost 3-0 on a technicality, loss of a point in the standings and suspended closure of the supporters' stand)... As for the revelations made by freelance journalist Romain Molina, who is not always right and does not live in France (he lives in Portugal), most of the facts he reports are elements that have been provided to him and recounted by others... He is probably right about some things and wrong about others... Nevertheless, I don't think it's useful for me to tell you things about our common owner, Sport Républic. Everyone is free to have their own opinion on the matter. Let's be strong, all together. That's all I have to say today!

National: “Being someone’s son is mostly about how others see you,” says Bryan Passi of Valenciennes. The new Valenciennes center-back comes from a long line of footballers. Not always an advantage in this highly competitive and closely watched environment. Before facing Orléans, he discusses this unique connection, which hasn’t prevented him from having a successful career. Bryan Passi is not like other players. We don’t talk about his shorter-than-expected stint in Israel, a season with Hapoel Tel Aviv two years ago, during which he had to contend with air raid alerts and rocket attacks on the Jewish state during the war. Nor do we talk about the very violent collision he suffered last year in Portugal with Mafra, when he “broke his face,” the expression used to describe the multiple facial fractures he sustained after an aerial duel. We simply talk about his surname. The son of Franck Passi, who managed LOSC Lille in 2017 and was a successful player at Toulouse, Marseille, and Monaco in the 1990s, and the nephew of Gérald, who played for Montpellier, Toulouse, and Monaco and earned eleven caps for France, the new Valenciennes center-back has a surname that carries significant weight in the football world. "A lot of people don't like it. When you're someone's son, you're always being scrutinized and analyzed from every angle." Bryan Passi He wasn't necessarily aware of this right away, while living in Spain and England during the end of his father's playing career and his early days as a manager. It was undoubtedly more apparent when the family returned to France, and even more so when football became a serious pursuit for the Valenciennes native at the Montpellier youth academy, where his father also honed his skills in the 1980s. In football, as elsewhere, being the son is a double-edged sword. “A lot of people don’t like it. When you’re someone’s son, you’re always being scrutinized and analyzed from every angle. We don’t see our father the way others see him, and you have to live your life ignoring that,” advises the center-back. “Because the problem stems mainly from how others see you.” Briefly coached by his father at Niort Bryan Passi forged his own path to make a name for himself with a long stint at Niort (2019-2023) and nearly a hundred Ligue 2 appearances. He also had a strange experience there when his father took over as manager of the Chamois Niortais in 2020. “It didn’t last long: when he arrived, I got injured, and then there was the lockdown. I only had him for a week of training and for one match.” Repeating that experience isn’t necessarily part of the plan. “It’s still a bit strange,” he admits. “A locker room is complicated, and the father-son bond is very strong. You can easily think, ‘He’s the coach’s son, he’ll have advantages.’” In Valenciennes, Bryan Passi played his first match in front of his father, against Bourg-en-Bresse, but he’s a player like any other. He’s expected to bring his experience and physical presence. VAFC – Orléans, Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at the Stade du Hainaut. Unavailable: Thomas, A. Diomande, Appuah (injured)

Dear friends, Beyond the club's recent ups and downs, it's match day for Valenciennes. In a stadium that will welcome its largest crowd of the season, around 20,000 people, for a stadium with a capacity of 25,172, as part of the 25th anniversary of the TOYOTA factory, a long-standing partner of the club, we are hosting US Orléans. The objective in front of such a large crowd is to play a consistent game and learn from last week's heavy defeat. A narrow 1-0 victory would be my prediction for today. No one is fooled, however, as the season is long and more complicated than expected. We will have to hang on until the last day of the championship. Kick-off is at 5:30 p.m. French time. The link to the match is below:

I am not paid by anyone, just so you know. 🙃

Hey, you found your forum login details? What a surprise! 🤣

It's derby day, Friends! We're right behind you! The south of England is red and white! Come on you Saint's ! ❤️🤍

Stéphane Moulin in a video interview: "In the first half, I think we were present in the duels. We went down 1-0 due to a bit of bad luck, because, well, he (the Le Puy player) tried to cross, but his cross was poor, it hit the post and went in, and it was a goal." "But we still had chances in the first half; we could have been ahead. I think we were in the game at halftime, and then unfortunately, we conceded a goal right at the start of the second half. From then on, it wasn't what we hoped for or expected." "So, I'm extremely disappointed with the second half, obviously with the result, which is logical considering the overall performance, but I didn't understand why we changed our approach in the second half." "We tried to change things up, to field a team with more attacking players." "Offensive, but so many technical errors in the second half, so there you have it, it's true the pitch was difficult, I admit, but it was difficult for both teams, so they're more used to it than us, that's for sure, but well, the second half was not at all satisfactory."

National League: With Valenciennes, Bryan Passi is slowly getting back into the swing of things The central defender, who hadn't played an official match for nine months before joining Valenciennes, has just played two in a row, against Bourg and Le Puy this Friday. He says it himself: the rhythm and the feeling are returning, even if the match didn't go his way this time. Bryan Passi insists: Valenciennes came back onto the pitch after the break this Friday with "the same desire, the same conviction" as during the first forty-five minutes. Except that Le Puy "dominated us for almost the entire second half, we couldn't find the physical resources to get back into the game." And it ended 3-0. The newcomer doesn't believe his team suffered from a mental deficit, even though they seemed to collapse after the second goal. "Last week, we had the resilience to go for 2-1 and then 3-1 at the end of the match, we were incredibly solid." This (Friday) evening, they had the wind at their backs a bit more, they won more duels, and that's what made the difference. "Everything to make it work" The former Mafra player, who hadn't played for six months and hadn't played a single competitive match for nine months, was inevitably lacking match fitness when he arrived in Valenciennes, where he signed this winter to fill in for Romain Thomas (Achilles tendon) on the left side of the Valenciennes defense. Caught out on the goal conceded against Bourg-en-Bresse and then on the big chance that followed, which Jean Louchet thwarted on January 16th, he felt much better after an extra week of training. "As the matches go on, I'll get stronger," he assures. "Clearly, the pace of competition is nothing like the pace of training." I'm also going to find my feet in this new defense, learn a new way of playing. He came to Valenciennes for the project, the club, "the players who are here and the coach," there's "everything in place for it to work" in this environment. "In this second half of the season, we know what to expect; points away from home are hard to come by, especially here where the trip is long and the pitch is awful. We have to create a fortress at home," the turnaround will come from that.

Press revieuw after the match: National League: Valenciennes, having fallen to the bottom in Le Puy, never climbed out Soundly beaten in Haute-Loire (3-0) this Friday, Valenciennes were not rewarded for a fairly good first half that should have allowed them to take the lead. Instead, they conceded another improbable goal. And everything fell apart. There was no savior this time, no Rento Takaoka coming off the bench to score a brace, as in the first leg, and extricate VA from the mess they somewhat created for themselves this Friday evening in Le Puy-en-Velay. This echoes some unfortunate episodes from the past. Even with its new players (Airhiavbere, Passi, and Abi back in the starting lineup), even after last week's victory against Bourg-en-Bresse (3-1), Valenciennes is not cured of all its problems. The first away win of the season will have to wait. A twist of fate in the 45th + 1 minute If the game had to be decided, it would have been in the first half, when the best opportunities arose. Perfectly played through by Gaëtan Courtet, Ylan El Hadary undoubtedly had the best chance at his feet, but Le Puy goalkeeper Mathis Carvalho, rushing out to meet him, didn't falter (14th minute). "I think we were in the game for those first 45 minutes," said Stéphane Moulin. "We conceded a goal right at the start of the second half, and from then on, it wasn't what we hoped for or expected." “ Stéphane Moulin, VAFC Coach The bitterness stems from that bizarre goal conceded in the 45th + 1 minute, “a stroke of bad luck” caused by Le Puy captain Renald Xhemo, who clearly intended to cross but his shot went in off the post. “And then, we conceded a goal right at the start of the second half, and from then on, it wasn’t what we hoped for or expected.” Stunned, sunk, VA literally plummeted. “I didn’t understand why we changed our approach.” Unable to create any danger, the “Red and Whites,” who were playing in black on Friday, flirted with the penalty area for a long time before Yann Diebold converted a penalty after Erin Airhiavbere fouled him in the box. "One, two, three-nil!" rejoiced the Haute-Loire crowd, whose team, now fifth in the National league, has its sights set on the top of the table after this victory. Valenciennes, on the other hand, is more concerned with its performance. LE PUY - VALENCIENNES: 3-0 (1-0). Stade Charles-Massot, Le Puy-en-Velay. 800 spectators. Referee: Mr. Barenton. Goals: Xhemo (45th + 1), Adelaïde (52nd), Diebold (87th, pen.) for Le Puy. Yellow card for Le Puy: Adelaïde (6th). Le Puy: Carvalho; Zogba, Mohamed, Soualhia (Ghalem, 90th); Xhemo (captain); Bouleghcha (Doumbia, 90th), Esmel (Gauthier, 83rd), Wade (Akkal, 71st), Faty; Adelaïde (Diebold, 83rd), Rodrigues. Coach: Stéphane Dief. Valenciennes: Louchet; Airhiavbere, Landre, Passi, Koum (Wahib, 67th); Rouaï, Belloumou, Boissier (K. Diomandé, 59th), El Hadary (Ipiele, 59th); Courtet (captain), Abi (Takaoka, 67th). Coach: Stéphane Moulin.

The match has just ended and unfortunately there will be no second consecutive victory tonight. On a pitch unworthy of the third division championship, we lost 3-0 tonight... 1st goal: 45+1' a cross shot hits the goalpost, it looks like it's going in, and the assistant referee validates the goal. Second goal: 51', another goal that hits the post and goes in without any dispute... Third goal: 87' Penalty for Le Puy, shot in the centre of the goal, Jean Louchet can do nothing about it. VA weren't good, it has to be said, a match to forget tonight...

It was said that we would have a difficult season and that we would have to fight until the last day of the championship...

On a difficult pitch, we're really struggling offensively, the opposing goalkeeper can take it easy at the refreshment stand!

It's true that the last few matches between Pompey and the Saints have been tight, but I hope your recent home win will boost the players' confidence! As for what's happening off the pitch, it's always complicated with the local authorities. They're on edge and often very strict, so be careful if you're travelling to the game! We need to get a second consecutive win to build momentum. I wish you all the best!

The derby is a match that many people love, combining passion, fervour and rivality. People talk about this type of match for weeks beforehand, and the closer the match gets, the more the tension rises. In your country, England, football is very important, and I understand your impatience! I wish you a good match, my friends, and as we say in France, a derby isn't played, it's won! With you !! COYS!

Valenciennes Transfer Window: Four Arrivals Are Good, But Departures Are Needed Barring any last-minute setbacks, Valenciennes will stick to the four signings it has completed since the beginning of the month: Abi, Airhiavbere, Passi, and Daubin, to rebalance its squad. One or two departures should follow to trim the roster. Unless an unmissable opportunity arises, Valenciennes' winter transfer window is closed in terms of arrivals since the signing of Quentin Daubin on Monday, following those of Abi, Airhiavbere, and Passi. "The idea was to bring in four players; the positions were targeted," Stéphane Moulin reiterated this Thursday before embarking on the journey that will take him and his team to Le Puy-en-Velay for the seventeenth matchday of the National league. "It corresponds to what we wanted." “I hope we’ll stop there, otherwise it would mean something happened.” Like a last-minute injury. “There’s nothing wrong with asking for playing time.” As for the rest, the coach considers that only one player has left (Samy Baghdadi, loaned to Sochaux). The termination of Jordan Poha’s contract, who signed with Paris 13, and the transfer of Souleymane Basse to Pau in Ligue 2 don’t really count in his eyes, as he never relied on either of these players. “It’s not enough,” he believes. The squad deserves to be streamlined, if only to improve daily working conditions. “It would be good if everyone could find their place.” And this “everyone” obviously includes those whose playing time is very limited (Derrick Abu, Sambou Sissoko). “There’s nothing wrong with asking for him,” Stéphane Moulin reiterates. “When you can’t get him at your current club, you have to try and find him elsewhere.” Quentin Daubin has been out of work since leaving Gaziantep, Turkey, at the beginning of September. He’ll need some time to get back into form, starting this weekend with a match with the reserve team. Stéphane Moulin knows what he can expect from him, in a style similar to Mabrouk Rouaï’s, but “with more experience, more maturity in his game.” A true warrior, “a complete midfielder” whom the coach had under his command at Caen: “He’s the kind of player you’re never disappointed in.”

VAFC: "I was never given anything," says Rémy Boissier, the determined player who knows what he wants and where he's going. Back from suspension, Rémy Boissier is expected this Friday in Le Puy-en-Velay to make his eleventh consecutive start in the National league. It's the story of a season, even a footballer's life: the Valenciennes midfielder had to fight to overcome initial skepticism. Rémy Boissier was sidelined; now he's back on the deck, firmly attached to the bow of the Valenciennes ship, which has refloated itself without him, victorious against Bourg-en-Bresse (3-1) last week, as the midfielder was suspended. His return is expected this Friday in Le Puy-en-Velay, in the Valenciennes midfield where he has established himself by starting every match since the sixth game. "He was one of the few reliable players in the first half of the season because he always delivered," says his coach, Stéphane Moulin. If the rest of the season can be of the same caliber, especially given that Quentin Daubin's arrival will intensify the competition, "I would be delighted." It wasn't a given, however, as the newly appointed coaching staff had initially planned to manage without him this summer. Rémy Boissier took the blow in stride, even when he was asked in August to train with the reserve team. The Montauban native had never started a season under such circumstances. “It’s not common, and it’s not easy either,” but he concedes: “It allows you to question yourself. It also refocuses you on your work methods, on what you really want, your objectives.” His own have been clearly defined from the start: “If I came here, it’s to bring the club back to where it wants to be. Whether we’ll succeed or not, I don’t know. But I want to try to contribute.” “I told him: ‘Don’t worry, I’m not going to cause any problems. I just want to work, and then we’ll take stock.’ And well, it went well…” He had warned Stéphane Moulin that he wouldn’t make waves. “I told him: ‘Don’t worry, I’m not going to cause any problems. I just want to work, and then we’ll take stock.’” And that's it, it all worked out… » Turning thirty-two next month, with 142 Ligue 2 and 98 National matches under his belt, Rémy Boissier understood very early on, when the doors of youth academies closed, that he would have to fight to make his mark in professional football: “It's in my nature to be determined, I was never given anything.” A happy man in Valenciennes It all comes down to finding the right “chemistry” with the coaching staff. “Careers aren't built on their own,” it's obvious in a team sport, “there's your work, but you need people around you to validate what you're doing.” Rémy Boissier is a happy man in Valenciennes, and he makes no secret of it: “I'm coming to the end of my contract here. If there's a way to extend it, (the management) know I'm open to the idea.” I'm attached to the club, to its values, I think that shows. LE PUY (8th) – VALENCIENNES (12th), Friday, 7:30 p.m. Matchday 18 of the National league. Unavailable: Thomas, Coeff, A. Diomandé, Appuah (injured), Collet (returning from injury).

Finally, before sending you the local press, here is some information about tonight's match: We are travelling to Le Puy en Velay, who are 8th in the table with 23 points (we are 12th with 19 points). On paper, it doesn't look like it will be an easy match, in a small stadium (4,800 seats), compared to the 25,172 seats at the Stade du Hainaut. It will be a tricky match, and I think we will need to score quickly to win. Kick-off is at 7:30 p.m. French time. Find the link to the match below: Allez VA !

It's been a week since VA beat Bourg-en-Bresse 3-1 at the Stade du Hainaut, and here's the news from the week: - Winter transfer window: As announced, Souleymane BASSE, who has not played this season and was sidelined by the club, has signed with Pau FC in Ligue 2 on a permanent transfer. Quentin Daubin, a midfielder who was recently in Turkey, not with our sister club Goztepe, but with Gaziantep, has joined the team. Our coach wanted four new signings, and they have arrived: Charles Abi (forward) Erin Airhiavbere (full-back) Bryan Passi (centre-back) Quentin Daubin (midfielder) Before 31 January 2026, departures are possible, especially for players who do not play or play very little, but I do not think there will be any arrivals. - Relationship with supporters: The atmosphere is still tense between the most fervent fans and the club. After the match against FC Sochaux, some supporters who were on the pitch and recognised on camera were banned from the stadium until further notice. In protest, fan groups have also announced that they will be on strike until further notice. Dialogue is complicated, but I hope, for everyone's sake, that a solution will be found quickly. - My opinion on the rest of the season: Last Friday's victory was good for morale and confidence, but we must not let up in our efforts. The season continues and there are still victories to be won. We must remain serious and focused, and acknowledge that the first part of the season was a failure. The club has top-level facilities, a first-class training centre, a League 1 stadium, and everything is in place to ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible. I wish my club all the best, and hope that their efforts pay off on the pitch too. I also wish you, my fellow Southampton supporters, all the best, and hope that things will soon improve for you. Our thoughts are also with our friends at Goztepe, to whom I wish all the best for the rest of the season.

I'm here, my friend! I'm reading you, I'm watching you! As it happens, today is match day for Valenciennes!

Congratulations on tonight's victory, mates. It wasn't the match of the year, but it's three more points in the league. COYS !!!

National: "She was with me tonight," says Gaëtan Courtet after a deeply emotional goal Gaëtan Courtet, who scored Valenciennes' second goal immediately after coming on as a substitute, dedicated it to his mother, who passed away during the winter break. Like his teammates, Gaëtan Courtet didn't get carried away after the deserved victory against Bourg-en-Bresse. "We have to savor this and build on what we've achieved, but six months have passed, and they've been very difficult. We have to stay humble. I don't see why we should get carried away," he said after the match. The Valenciennes striker, who started on the bench while Charles Abi made his debut leading the Valenciennes attack, initially watched his new teammate make a successful start in Valenciennes by scoring in his very first match. Then, around the 65th minute, Courtet came on as a substitute, ten minutes after Valenciennes had conceded an equalizer. He partnered Charles Abi in a 4-4-2 formation, a system Stéphane Moulin had mentioned as a real option before the match. Less than a minute later, with his first touch after an Alain Ipiele cross was cleared straight down the middle by the opposing defense, the 36-year-old striker put his team back on track. Quick and efficient. "I'm going to try not to get teary-eyed..." "Scoring with my first touch has maybe happened once or twice in my career, but like that, after just one minute..." he breathed, his voice trailing off. It was he again, at the very end of the match, who pressed forward to set up Alain Ipiele for the third goal. Gaëtan Courtet symbolizes those substitutes who made a real difference for Valenciennes in a match that was particularly poignant for him. The northern striker, who took over the captain's armband upon entering the game, lost his mother during the international break. His celebration was understated yet deeply emotional, a true tribute. "I'll try not to get teary-eyed," he confided when recounting his performance. "But that goal and that victory are for her. She was with me tonight."

My recap of tonight's match: In a somewhat subdued atmosphere, due to the absence of supporters' groups, the fans present at the Stade du Hainaut hoped to see a better performance from their team after a difficult first half of the season. With the team's "revenge" mentality announced the day before the match, there was definitely anticipation on the pitch. Among the 11 players who started the match, the three winter signings were in the starting lineup. The first 35 minutes were evenly matched between the two teams, although Valenciennes had a slight edge. Valenciennes opened the scoring through Charles Abi, who had to make a second save after his initial shot hit the right post of the opposing goal. At halftime, Valenciennes held a one-goal lead, but they should be wary of Bourg-en-Bresse! Returning from the locker room in the 52nd minute, Bryan Passi lost possession dangerously in the center of the defense, and on one of the few shots from the opposition, he equalized 1-1... The match became more balanced, and both teams made substitutions around the 65th minute. For Valenciennes, Courtet and Ipiele entered the pitch. A minute later, Ipiele broke down the wing, and Courtet pounced on a loose ball in front of goal and fired it into the back of the net (66th minute), giving VA a 2-1 lead. The end of the match was tense, with a hint of an equalizer in the air. VA held firm defensively, and in the final minute, Ipiele scored to make it 3-1 on a counter-attack (the opposing goalkeeper made a slight handling error, in my opinion). The match ended, and I saw smiles all around me. We were going to have a good weekend; that doesn't happen often, and it was a real morale booster. But this needs to continue, the club needs to keep working, not rest on its laurels, and build real momentum that will last... Let's hope so! Go VA!

National: "Everyone was waiting for this," three goals, one victory, the simple pleasures of victory in Valenciennes. By scoring three times for the first time this season, Valenciennes dominated Bourg-en-Bresse (3-1) and rediscovered the simple joy of winning. Not without a few scares, but the year begins with a smile. This obviously needs to be sustained over time, and no one in Valenciennes intended to get carried away after the deserved victory against Bourg-en-Bresse. There was no question of getting ahead of themselves after only their fifth win of the season, but since victory had been a rare commodity until then, the Valenciennes players savored it for what it was. There was also the relief of securing three points for the first time since the end of October and after a December that was complicated in many respects. “Everyone was waiting for this, we needed it because we’ve had some tough matches and it frustrated everyone,” confirmed a beaming Samir Belloumou, who finally got to play a full match in a Valenciennes shirt. Abi, Courtet, Ipiele scorers The other good news of the evening was the three attacking players who scored: Charles Abi in his first match, Gaetan Courtet with his first touch, and Alain Ipiele for the first time this season. Three goals for VAFC is unprecedented this season and certainly helps in winning a match. The equalizer from Bourg-en-Bresse’s first shot on target (52nd minute) and Jean Louchet’s goal-line clearance immediately afterward (55th minute) served as a reminder that all is not yet settled at VA. “We’re going to stay calm.” “At that moment, you feel like things could change, but we didn’t give up,” said Stéphane Moulin. “I’m also very happy to see what the substitutes brought; I saw a united and tenacious group. We’re going to savor this because it hasn’t happened to us very often. But I’m not fooling myself, we’re going to stay calm.” Because it will take more than that to win back a supporters’ section that had deserted its stand and created a very subdued atmosphere at the Hainaut stadium. The atmosphere certainly warmed up when Valenciennes secured the victory in stoppage time thanks to Alain Ipiele. Goals and a victory that bring relief: sometimes, football can also be a simple pleasure in Valenciennes. Valenciennes – Bourg-en-Bresse: 3-1 (1-0) 4,745 spectators Goals: Abi (35'), Courtet (66'), Ipiele (90+6') for Valenciennes, Cissé (52') for Bourg-en-Bresse Yellow card: Cissé (90+2') for Bourg-en-Bresse Valenciennes: Louchet; Airhivabere (Coeff 64'), Landre, Passi (Wahib 77'), Koum; Belloumou (captain), Marechal (Ipiele 64'); Rouai; K. Diomande (Courtet 64'), Abi, El Hadary (Takaoka 88'). Foreign coach: Stéphane Moulin Bourg-en-Bresse: Boulhendi; Do Marcolino, Lacour, Vitre; Laspalles, Bodmer, Slimani (Touray 53rd), Meyer, Pembele (Guel 70th); Cissé, Boumaaoui (Logbo 82nd). Coach: David Le Frapper