Aurélie Sacchelli, Media365: published on Monday, April 13, 2026 at 10:50 pm
After quickly taking the lead in Rodez, the Ligue 2 leader Troyes eventually lost 2-1 in Aveyron and finished with 10 players in the 30th matchday. ESTAC sees St-Etienne closing in on them by one point, while Rodez still has hope for the playoffs.
After seven games unbeaten, Ligue 2 leader Troyes suffered a defeat (2-1) on Monday night in Rodez, concluding the 30th matchday! Despite an early goal, the players from Aube were overturned in a match that ended under heavy rain, offering promising prospects for the Ruthénois. Troyes couldn’t have started the match better. In the 3rd minute, on a cross from Boura from the left, Diawara struck the ball, finding Braat, who parried to Detourbet, who then shot but was saved by Braat again… Adeline came in to place his head and open the score (0-1). After this missed start, Rodez reacted well, creating several goal opportunities, including two that were stopped by Boura (against Arconte in the 9th and Younoussa in the 20th), who was omnipresent in this first half but could also have given away a penalty for a handball in the box. Goalkeeper Konaté also stood out against Arconte (23rd) and Nagera (37th). During the four minutes of stoppage time, Troyen Bentayeb and Ruthénois Saka could have also scored, but their shots were off target.
Saka and Arconte score
At the start of the second half, Rodez pushed forward and Saka saw Diop stop his shot from an angle, then Younoussa saw his low shot at the edge of the box deflected by Konaté. But the players from Aveyron were eventually rewarded in the 54th minute with a goal from Saka. The free-kick near the box from Jean-Lambert was deflected by the wall, onto Saka who sent the ball into the top corner (1-1). The rain then made its appearance, but it didn’t distract the Ruthénois, who doubled the score in the 72nd minute. Launched deep, Baldé, just coming on, saw his shot deflected by Diawara, towards Arconte who popped up at the far post to score his 12th goal of the season in Ligue 2 (2-1). Younoussa could even have increased the lead but his shot went wide of the post (78th).
Troyes finishes with 10 players
Troyes didn’t give up, and after a beautiful team play, Ripart, a new substitute, produced a beautiful curled shot from the penalty spot, which Braat deflected onto the post (83rd). His teammate El Idrissy made the worst possible entrance. After replacing Diawara in the 87th, he demanded a penalty from the referee and then became angry, receiving two consecutive yellow cards and leaving his team to finish the match with 10 players. A last free-kick from Ifnaoui could have allowed ESTAC to equalize just before the end, but Braat cleared it for a corner. This is Troyes’ 6th defeat this season, remaining at the top of the standings but with only a one-point lead over St-Etienne, before hosting Boulogne-sur-Mer (12th) on Saturday. Meanwhile, Rodez remains 6th but is equal on points with Reims, the playoff team, albeit with a lesser goal difference (+15 against +3). The Ruthénois, who will host Amiens, second to last, in the next match, are still in the game!
