ST ETIENNE, France - In a dazzling display of attacking football, Saint Etienne battered PAU 6-0 at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on October 28, 2025, a result that both vindicated their ambitions and elevated them to second place in Ligue 2. Just days after suffering a heavy defeat, coach Laurent Batlles' side appeared transformed, demonstrating an insatiable hunger to reclaim their position among the promotion contenders.
The home side wasted no time asserting their dominance, with João Ferreira striking within just two minutes of the whistle, sending the St Etienne fans into a frenzy. Eleven minutes later, Irvin Cardona doubled the lead, leaving PAU reeling and struggling to find their footing. The visitors, who came into this match in fourth place and buoyed by an impressive unbeaten streak, simply could not cope with the intensity and fluidity of Saint Etienne's attack.
As the first half wore on, Florian Tardieu further compounded PAU's misery, converting a penalty in the 41st minute. Just before the break, Joshua Duffus added another to the tally, scoring his first of two goals in the match at 44 minutes, signaling a complete disintegration of PAU's defensive line.
The second half began with little respite for PAU. Just three minutes after the restart, Duffus struck again, scoring his second and showcasing Saint Etienne's relentless commitment to adding to the scoreline. Even as PAU's misery deepened, they were reduced to ten men in the 89th minute when Setigui Karamoko received a red card, capping off a night to forget.
With Zuriko Davitashvili adding the final goal in the 79th minute, the rout was complete. This result pushed Saint Etienne up to second in the standings with 23 points, just behind the league leaders. After a dismal run that saw them drop points in previous matches, this emphatic victory not only restored their confidence but also reasserted their promotion credentials.
For PAU, who have slipped to fourth and now sit on 21 points, the match illuminated their vulnerabilities. Their strong start to the season is now overshadowed by two consecutive defeats, and returning to winning ways will be crucial if they hope to stay in contention for promotion.
Reflecting on my earlier predictions, I must admit I vastly underestimated the resolve of Saint Etienne. I envisioned a tactical battle that favored PAU, given their solid form and league position. Instead, it was Saint Etienne who emerged as the dominant side, turning the match into a one-sided affair.
As both teams look ahead, Saint Etienne will look to build on this momentum, while PAU will need to regroup quickly as they face the challenge of regaining their form in a tightly contested league.