Troyes (home)
- Troyes lead Ligue 2 with 35 points from 17 games.
- Ligue 2 leaders ES Troyes AC will confirm their superiority over Red Star 93 Saint Ouen when two of the league’s most impressive sides meet at Stade de l'Aube on Saturday.
- Stephane Dumont’s side have been the model of consistency at the top of France’s second tier since his pragmatic and tactically astute approach took over in August 2024.
- Dumont has instilled a shape and discipline to Troyes that has made them one of Ligue 2’s most tactically stable sides in 2025-2026, bar none.
- The Troyens are just as capable of sitting deep and absorbing pressure as they are of dominating games and bossing possession with their back four protected by a bank of midfielders.
- Tawfik Bentayeb is Troyes’ talisman and has been in fine form again in 2025, notching eight goals in 11 appearances in Ligue 2.
Red Star (away)
- Red Star are 5th in Ligue 2 with 29 points from 16.
- Red Star have been impressive on the road in Ligue 2 this season, winning five, drawing two and losing just one of their eight road games.
- Gregory Poirier, who took charge of the club in July 2024, has given Red Star a compact mid/low block identity that is tough to break down and dangerous on the counter attack.
- Red Star’s defence has been extremely stingy in Ligue 2, conceding an average of only 0.62 goals per game on their travels, but their attack has been prolific enough to score 1.50 goals per away game.
- Damien Durand, who tops the Red Star scoring charts with eight in 16, is the sort of targetman that can stretch defences and be a threat on the break.
- Red Star could frustrate Troyes for long periods of Saturday’s game, but ultimately may lack the cutting edge to beat the league leaders.
Key Players
- Tawfik Bentayeb
- Tawfik Bentayeb is Troyes’ talisman and has been in fine form again in 2025, notching eight goals in 11 appearances in Ligue 2.
- Damien Durand
- Damien Durand, who tops the Red Star scoring charts with eight in 16, is the sort of targetman that can stretch defences and be a threat on the break.
Betting Insights
- The odds reflect the difference in form between these two clubs, with the leaders 1.8 favourites to beat the 4.5 underdogs Red Star.
- We’re taking the home side to edge this, but given Red Star’s recent form and the solid defensive records both have in the campaign to date, we think Under 2.5 goals at 1.7 is a stronger alternative bet for this game.
Prediction
Red Star can keep it tight and be dangerous on the turn, which should make for a very interesting tactical duel between two very different, yet equally impressive, sides.
