In April, at last, Villefranche can stop walking on the edge of fear to know its fate, this almost definitive tilt towards the creation of the next professional League 3.
A present to savor, but with one condition: a victory over FC Rouen this Friday evening, to add a margin of more than ten points to the red zone, however, with one more match on the counter.
It doesn’t take a psychic to measure the weight of FC Rouen’s next visit. With a win, FCVB would reach the 32-point mark which, traditionally, for years now, has been the acquired limit to stay in the third division of French football.
The FCVB is again weakened in defense
A significant stake? Yes and no, depending on the chosen perspective. Yes, firstly because there are only two games left at home until the end of the season. Therefore, the loyal Caladois public, who has often exceeded a thousand spectators, deserves much more than a distant celebration of remaining in N1, considering their constant loyalty to coach Fabien Pujo’s team, defeated three times in the last home games.
No, then, because curiously it is far from the Beaujolais nest that Villefranche is collecting points in 2026, having gathered 8 points out of 15 possible, while in the first half-season, no victory had nourished Caladoise’s ambition this season.
To achieve this, facing this Rouen team that dominated in the first half-hour at the first encounter (a 2-1 defeat for Caladoise), FCVB may not be able to rely on its internationals Mroivili and Bayeye, who returned from selection on Thursday. Physical concerns also affect the central defenders Dekoke and Camelo this week, leaving the possibility of Kena Kabeya starting in place of the regular Tshibuabua.
FC Rouen must preserve its play-off place
A match that opens the doors to the final sprint, against a team better than itself on paper, namely this FC Rouen team that has only had one victory in the last five games.
Coach Regis Brouard’s team is not boring to watch. And the Normans’ coach remains an attraction in himself, as he uses words as a weapon to motivate his team.
After the defeat brought back from Bourg (3-1) early in March, he stated this on Paris-Normandie’s microphone: “We were equal, pitiful, ridiculous. The players messed with us. They did whatever…”.
A reminder that was followed by a victory (3-2) against Stade Briochin, with a 3-0 advantage after an hour of play, a sign of a significant reaction from a group that lost the lead on the first two places, despite often being leaders this season. It is as if the fear of failing at the end has entered Brouard’s locker room.
No doubt the trip to Beaujolais will be closely followed in Normandy. Because anything other than a victory would allow the pursuer, Orleans, four points behind, to still believe, even though Della Maggiore’s players will be exempt from the championship this weekend, to secure this play-off place that carries so much hope towards Ligue 2.
National: Where to follow FCVB-FC Rouen this Friday?
Friday, April 3, 28th matchday of the National Championship. In Villefranche, at the Stade Armand-Chouffet, at 7:30 pm, FC Villefranche-Beaujolais (12th) hosts FC Rouen (3rd). Referee: Mr. Kerzazi. Match to follow on the FFF’s Youtube channel and BFM Lyon.
FCVB Group: P’Aean, Wilzius – Sba’Aci, Kena Kabeya, Nagera, Tshibuabua, Ouedraogo, Marcel, Etoga, Keita, Louzif, Touho, Leye, Sabihi, Assef, Testud, Mixtur.
