Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
Clermont Foot beat Andrézieux 4-1 in their third pre-season friendly at the Centre de Performance, with goals from M'Bahia, Diop, Bouchenna and Saintorens.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
David Guion's side needed just 13 minutes to take the lead. Ivan M'Bahia rose highest to meet a corner and power a header past the Andrézieux goalkeeper, rewarding a controlled opening spell from the Ligue 2 side.
The hosts doubled their advantage on the half-hour mark. Ousmane Diop capitalised on a defensive error forced by Clermont's high press, slotting home to make it 2-0 at the break — a scoreline that reflected their dominance without being entirely clinical, according to La Montagne.
Any hopes of an Andrézieux fightback were extinguished within a three-minute spell midway through the second half. Mohamed-Amine Bouchenna netted the third in the 58th minute, and Arthur Saintorens — who signed his first professional contract with the club on 7 July — added a fourth three minutes later (61'), finishing a well-worked team move after being teed up by Maïdine Douane.
Andrézieux pulled one back late on (84') to reduce the deficit, but the result was never in doubt.
The turning point
Saintorens' 61st-minute goal, making it 4-0 just three minutes after Bouchenna's strike, effectively killed the contest. The quickfire double inside 180 seconds showcased the kind of attacking rhythm Guion has been working on during the club's pre-season training camp in Vichy, and left Andrézieux with too steep a mountain to climb.
Key performers
- Ivan M'Bahia — opened the scoring with a well-taken 13th-minute header from a corner, setting the tone for Clermont's set-piece threat.
- Ousmane Diop — doubled the lead with a poacher's finish after pressing high and forcing an error, exactly the sort of intensity Guion demands.
- Arthur Saintorens — capped a fine individual display with his first senior goal for the club just days after signing his first professional contract, linking well with Douane.
- Mohamed-Amine Bouchenna — made it 3-0 with a composed finish, maintaining Clermont's momentum after the interval.
Player of the match: Arthur Saintorens (Clermont Foot)
By the numbers — interpreted
The 4-1 scoreline flattered Andrézieux only slightly. Clermont led 2-0 at half-time and stretched the lead to 4-0 before a late consolation. The margin reflected a clear gap between Ligue 2 and National 1 levels, with Guion's side creating chances from set pieces, high pressing, and open play. The pre-match statistical model on Sports Mole gave Clermont a 55.4% win probability, but the actual result was more emphatic than the 1-0 or 2-0 scorelines the model predicted as most likely.
What it means
This was Clermont's third pre-season friendly in eight days under new manager David Guion, who was appointed on 24 June 2026. After a 1-0 win over Orléans (11 July) and a 0-0 draw with Bourges (15 July), the victory builds momentum ahead of the Ligue 2 season, which starts in three weeks. The match was also the first attended by new president and co-owner Stéphane Tessier.
Clermont's next friendly is against QRM (Quevilly-Rouen) on Wednesday 22 July in Orléans, followed by fixtures against Montpellier HSC (25 July) and Grenoble Foot 38 (1 August). Andrézieux continue their own pre-season preparations for the National 1 campaign.
Verdict
A thoroughly professional pre-season display from Clermont, who showed growing sharpness in front of goal after a goalless draw against Bourges three days earlier. The quickfire second-half double was the standout takeaway for Guion, while Saintorens' goal suggests the academy product could be one to watch in the coming season.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 19 Jul 2026