Ligue 2 BKT: Red Star chase podium, Guingamp overcome ASSE

Ligue 2 BKT returned over the weekend and saw plenty of action, as Saint-Étienne were defeated for the first time this season by Guingamp, and Red Star pushed the podium with a hard-fought win over Boulogne.

Red Star stay in the chase

Grégory Poirier’s Red Star FC side continue to go up against the odds after a 2-1 victory at Boulogne-sur-Mer. Giovanni Haag struck a superb free-kick after just nine minutes, only for Gabin Capuano to level moments later with the help of an error from Gaëtan Poussin. Dylan Durivaux then provided the decisive moment midway through the second half with miss-hit cross that flew into the back of the net late on, sealing Red Star’s fifth win in six. Red Star have now won their last four consecutive away matches - the first time that the Paris suburb club formed in 1897 have done so since January to March in 1964.

Guingamp end Saint-Étienne’s unbeaten run

After seven games without defeat, ASSE finally fell at Geoffroy-Guichard as Guingamp claimed a 3-2 win. Amine Hemia’s deflected strike put the Bretons ahead before the hosts levelled via a Dylan Louiserre own goal. But Guingamp were lethal on the counter, with Darly Ndanlu restoring the lead and Tanguy Ahile extending it late on. Mickaël Nadé reduced the deficit deep into stoppage time, but it was too little too late for Eirik Horneland’s side.

Montpellier find relief

Montpellier returned to winning ways after last week’s damaging home defeat to Boulogne. Alexandre Mendy scored the only goal in a tight encounter at Laval, turning sharply in the box to fire past Alexis Sauvage. The Hérault club climb into sixth, while Simon Ngapandou was key in goal with three decisive saves to preserve the clean sheet.

Amiens hit for six in Dunkerque

A disastrous evening for Amiens saw them slump to a 6-2 defeat at Dunkerque. Marco Essimi netted a first-half hat-trick, with further goals from Thomas Robinet, Vincent Sasso and Geoffrey Kondo compounding Amiens’ misery. The visitors pulled two goals back through Ikia Dimi and Ange Chibozo, but their defensive frailties leave them sliding to mid-table. Dunkerque, meanwhile, surge into the top half.