Caen vs Gobelins

Clichy's nine-man substitution on the hour mark. The first XI — a young, inexperienced side — had been outclassed in every department, especially in central defence where the pairing of Asaïdi and Etuin struggled. The second XI, featuring experienced heads like Gnanduillet, Rajot, Botella and Hafid, immediately raised the tempo, pressed higher and moved the ball with purpose. Caen's attacking output climbed sharply in the final 30 minutes, but the gamble of pushing so many men forward also left the door open for Sidibé's decisive strike.

• Keelyan Portut (Caen): The 19-year-old winger was a constant threat throughout, even when those around him struggled. His goal — a composed finish after a penetrating run — was the spark that ignited the comeback. Clichy singled out his "intensity" post-match.
• Mohamed-Amine El Idrissi (Caen): The new signing scored his first goal for the club and linked well with Botella and Hafid in the second half.
• Lorenzo Rajot (Caen): Popped up with the equaliser and was a calming presence in midfield after being introduced.
• Ivann Botella (Caen): Two assists — the pull-back for El Idrissi and the free-kick for Rajot — in a lively 30-minute cameo from the left wing.

Player of the match: Keelyan Portut. His energy and goal changed the game's complexion.

Caen dominated possession across the 90 minutes but it was largely sterile in the first hour, with the home side failing to test the Gobelins goalkeeper. The first XI's 60% possession yielded only one disallowed goal and a single off-target shot. In contrast, the second XI created three clear-cut chances and scored three times in 22 minutes. The 0-3 half-time deficit reflected a team that controlled the ball but not the game — Gobelins' three goals came from three counter-attacks, each with three passes or fewer. The 3-4 final scoreline flattered Caen's first-half performance while understating their second-half dominance.

This was Caen's second pre-season friendly (they beat Rennes 2-1 on 11 July) and exposed a significant gap between the club's first-choice XI and its fringe players. Clichy, who took charge earlier this year, acknowledged the split: "I'm more satisfied with this match than the one against Rennes. Against Rennes there weren't many lessons. Here, we'll need to have this attitude every weekend." The club also announced the signing of prolific striker Fahd El Khoumisti on the same day. Caen's next friendly is against Laval at Flers on Saturday 18 July (17:00 CEST). Gobelins continue their own pre-season build-up ahead of the Ligue 3 campaign starting in early August.

A game of two completely different teams. Caen's youngsters were outclassed in the first hour; their senior players dominated the final half-hour. Clichy will take heart from the fightback and the integration of new signings, but the defensive frailties — and the lack of depth in central defence — remain a concern with the season three weeks away.