Dijon vs UNFP

The scoreline flattered neither side's first-half output. UNFP struck first through Jérémie Bela (28'), the veteran winger finishing smartly after a patient build-up. Dijon responded within eight minutes: J. Domingues levelled in the 36th minute, and Quentin Bernard — assisted by Hatem Mimoune, per Le Bien Public — headed Dijon in front deep into first-half stoppage time (45+4') to make it 2-1 at the break.

Dijon turned the screw after the interval. Y. Barka scored twice (54', 85') either side of a goal from A. Lembezat (56'), the three second-half strikes arriving in a devastating 20-minute window. UNFP substitute M. Beneddine pulled one back in the 77th minute, but Barka's second restored the three-goal margin.

UNFP held their own for the opening half-hour, and Bela's opener gave the free-agent side a platform. But Bernard's stoppage-time header just before the interval — a set-piece routine that caught the UNFP defence sleeping — shifted momentum decisively. Dijon emerged for the second half with sharper intensity and scored twice inside the first 12 minutes, effectively ending the contest.

• Y. Barka (Dijon) — Two clinical finishes from inside the box, the second a late exclamation point. The liveliest attacker on the pitch.
• A. Lembezat (Dijon) — One goal and a constant threat on the right flank; his movement stretched the UNFP backline repeatedly after the break.
• J. Domingues (Dijon) — Scored the equaliser that steadied Dijon after Bela's opener and dictated the tempo in central midfield.
• J. Bela (UNFP) — The former Clermont and Dijon winger showed his quality with a well-taken opener and was UNFP's most dangerous outlet before his substitution.

Player of the Match: Y. Barka (Dijon)

The 5-2 scoreline reflects Dijon's superior fitness and familiarity — the core of their squad has been together since winning the National title in May 2026, while UNFP's squad is assembled from free agents training together for barely three weeks. Dijon's second-half burst (three goals in 12 minutes) was the clearest indicator of that gap in conditioning and cohesion. The match featured no cards, suggesting a genuinely friendly tone despite the one-sided scoreboard.

For Dijon, this was their sharpest pre-season display yet ahead of their Ligue 2 return — the 2026-27 campaign kicks off in August. The result builds on their earlier friendly against Le Puy and suggests Baptiste Ridira's side are adapting well to a step up in class.

For UNFP FC, this was the third of eight scheduled pre-season friendlies in the 36th edition of the union's summer programme. After a 2-1 loss to the PFA (English free agents) on 8 July and a match against Quevilly Rouen on 11 July, the 5-2 defeat to Dijon closed the first training block supervised by Michael Ciani, Cris and Sebastien Monce. The UNFP squad will continue their preparation under new staff, with fixtures against Valenciennes (25 July), Red Star (28 July), US Orleans (31 July), FC Lorient (4 August) and Le Havre (8 August) still to come. The programme aims to help the 84% of participants who found new contracts last season repeat that success.

A deserved win for a Dijon side that looks ahead of schedule in its pre-season build-up. UNFP showed flashes of individual quality — Bela's goal was a reminder of his pedigree — but the collective understanding that comes from a settled squad proved decisive. Dijon's Barka and Lembezat will be names to watch as the Ligue 2 season approaches.