Ligue 2 BKT: Red Star Rise as Troyes hold firm & Bastia finally breathe

The battle for promotion intensified over the weekend as Red Star FC defeated AS Saint-Étienne 2-1 in the standout fixture of Round 13. Damien Durand struck twice at a bouncing Stade Bauer to fire the historic Parisian club up to second in the table, just a single point behind leaders Troyes.

The veteran forward opened the scoring inside 33 seconds, punishing a defensive lapse from Joao Ferreira, before doubling the lead with a composed finish midway through the first half from Dembo Sylla’s precise delivery. Zuriko Davitashvili pulled one back for Les Verts with a clever low free-kick, but Grégory Poirier’s men held firm to record their eighth win of the campaign and underline their growing credentials as promotion contenders.

“In the dressing room, we were euphoric,” smiled Durand afterwards when speaking to Le Parisien. “But we’ll stay humble — we’ve only played 13 games. The group is mature and ambitious; that’s what makes the difference.”

Troyes stay top despite red card drama

On Monday night, leaders ESTAC Troyes preserved their advantage at the summit after a battling 1-1 draw away to Pau, despite playing over 70 minutes with ten men following Tawfik Bentayeb’s early dismissal. Youngster Mouhamed Diop equalised after Rayane Messi’s opener to ensure the Aubois remain two points clear of Red Star.

Montpellier climb, Bastia finally win

Elsewhere, Montpellier continued their resurgence with a 2-0 home win over Rodez, thanks to Téji Savanier’s penalty and Alexandre Mendy’s fourth goal of the campaign. The result lifts Michel Der Zakarian’s side to fourth place, just behind Pau on goal difference.

At the opposite end, Bastia finally tasted victory after a turbulent week in Corsica. A late header from Dominique Guidi earned a 1-0 win over Clermont — the Sporting’s first of the season, providing a much-needed boost following the departure of coach Benoît Tavenot.

Elsewhere in the BKT...

Le Mans and Guingamp both secured home wins to climb the table, while Annecy were held 1-1 by Boulogne-sur-Mer. Despite their impressive attacking record, Saint-Étienne’s inconsistency continues to frustrate — Saturday’s defeat means they now sit third, three points off Red Star, before a crucial trip to Troyes next weekend.

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>>Ligue 2 BKT: Saint-Étienne bounce back in style with 6-0 demolition of Pau