Ligue 2: ASSE & Montpellier grab first wins, Amiens turn over Red Star

The second matchday of the 2025/26 Ligue 2 BKT season delivered more spectacle, late twists, and goals across the board. If no side has managed to win both of their opening fixtures, several contenders have already made a strong impression in the race for promotion.

Saint-Étienne turn on the style

The standout performance came at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, where AS Saint-Étienne swept past Rodez (4-0). Long haunted by their Aveyronnais rivals in previous Ligue 2 BKT campaigns, the Verts produced a commanding display. Joshua Duffus, freshly signed from Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion, netted the opener before fellow summer recruit Jaber doubled the advantage after the break. Further goals came from from Cardona and Davitashvili, both assisted by Boakye.

Montpellier's last-gasp relief as Reims rise, Annecy slip

Newly relegated Montpellier HSC got their season up and running with a dramatic 2-1 win at promoted Le Mans on Monday night. Tanguy Coulibaly opened the scoring midway through the second half, but the Hérault club looked set to drop points when Dame Gueye equalised deep into stoppage time. Yet Zoumana Camara’s men struck back almost instantly, Junior Ndiaye heading home in the 100th minute from an Alexandre Mendy cross, sparking relief and celebration.

At Stade Auguste-Delaune, Stade de Reims edged Guingamp (1-0) thanks to Thiemoko Diarra, who converted a perfectly weighted pass from Teddy Teuma. The win lifts the Champenois into the early top half. Meanwhile, Annecy let victory slip away in Dijon against Dunkerque. Two goals from Pajot and Billemaz had put them 2-0 up inside 30 minutes, but the visitors struck back through Sekongo and Yassine to snatch a 2-2 draw.

Amiens and Nancy grind out wins

Amiens SC continued their strong start, winning 3-1 away at Red Star. Averlant scored twice before Ikia Dimi killed the game in stoppage time, despite Damien Durand briefly restoring hope for the Parisians. AS Nancy Lorraine also impressed, seeing off Boulogne 1-0 thanks to an early Fdaouch strike.

Elsewhere in the multiplex, Troyes held Clermont 0-0, and Grenoble and Laval shared the spoils (1-1). In Corsica, Bastia and Pau drew 1-1 in a heated encounter that saw a red card on each side and a post-goal scuffle after Arconte’s equaliser.