Grenoble vs Villefranche

Olivier Frapolli fielded a completely different XI in each half to give his entire squad minutes, and both units delivered. Grenoble controlled the first period and took a deserved lead when Maël Corboz finished from close range in the 14th minute after being set up by Bangré.

Bangré turned provider again before the interval, his cross met by K. Fofana who doubled the lead in the 32nd minute. Grenoble went into the break 2-0 up.

The second half brought eleven changes and more goals. Trialist goalkeeper Théo Borne made an immediate impact, saving a Villefranche penalty in the 47th minute and then denying the follow-up. That proved a momentum-shifting moment.

Baptiste Mouazan made it 3-0 in the 52nd minute with a delicate finish, and Ugo Bonnet added a fourth in the 64th minute after running in behind the defence.

Villefranche pulled two goals back from corners — first in the 69th minute and again in the 83rd — exposing some defensive lapses after Grenoble's wholesale changes. But Mouazan had the final word, completing his double in the 90th minute to restore the three-goal cushion.

Borne's penalty save in the 47th minute, just seconds into the second half, kept the score at 2-0 and prevented Villefranche from gaining a foothold. Grenoble scored twice in the next 17 minutes to put the game beyond reach.

• Baptiste Mouazan (Grenoble) — Two goals (52', 90'), both showing composure in front of goal. The forward's movement and finishing were the standout individual contributions.
• Bangré (Grenoble) — Provided the assist for Corboz's opener and delivered the cross for Fofana's goal. A constant threat down the flank in the first half.
• Théo Borne (Grenoble) — The trialist goalkeeper made an instant impact with a penalty save early in the second half, keeping the clean sheet intact at a crucial stage.
• Maël Corboz (Grenoble) — Scored the opener and controlled midfield alongside Magnin in the first-half unit.

The 5-2 scoreline tells a story of Grenoble's first-half control and second-half ruthlessness interrupted by a brief defensive wobble. The two Villefranche goals both came from corners, suggesting Grenoble's set-piece organisation dropped off after the interval when Frapolli changed the entire outfield. On the other end, Grenoble's five goals came from open play, with the team creating chances through wide areas (Bangré's deliveries) and central runs (Bonnet, Mouazan). The penalty save by Borne at 2-0 was arguably the match's defining statistical moment — Villefranche never got closer than 4-2.

After a 0-0 draw against Bourg-Peronnas on 11 July, this is Grenoble's first win of preseason. Frapolli will be encouraged by the attacking output but will want to tighten the defensive organisation before the Ligue 2 season begins. Grenoble face Sochaux next on Saturday at Le Chambon-sur-Lignon in their third friendly. For Villefranche (Ligue 3), the two goals from set pieces offer a positive takeaway from a defeat that otherwise exposed the gap in quality.

A convincing Grenoble performance built on two effective XIs, a trialist goalkeeper's penalty save, and Mouazan's lively double. The defensive vulnerability from corners after the interval is a work-on, but the attacking variety — crosses, through balls, and individual finishes — suggests Frapolli's side is taking shape ahead of the new season.