Football Season Guide

Guingamp are competing in Ligue 2 for the seventh-successive season, with last term’s fifth place the best they have managed since relegation from Ligue 1. The Bretons, though, have been one of the most consistent teams in the league, never finishing outside the top half of the table. Sylvain Ripoll is gearing up for another push towards the playoffs this time around but is heading into the new campaign with a smaller squad. Guingamp look like they are a side liable to lean on a handful of players this term. In attack, Brighton Labeau finished last season well and needs to maintain that form, while Rayan Ghrieb could provide X-factor in the midfield. Similarly, Amine Hemia will be important in this regard as Guingamp were at their best last season when he was on form. Guingamp are still on the lookout for another winger, having lost Hugo Picard in the summer. The central midfield pairing for Dylan Louiserre and Kalidou Sidibe seems likely to go unchanged but the defence is set to be subject to change. Dylan Ourega is the only left-back on the club’s books going into the season and is a very inexperienced option. Indeed, the rearguard looks thin in numbers. This is a particular concern given the injury problems they suffered last season and the fact that key right-back Alpha Sissoko and starting centre-back Sohaib Nair have both struggled physically in pre-season. One area where there is change is in goal. Enzo Basilio has gone to Nancy after being first choice last season. Adrian Ortola has arrived at the club from Dunkerque, where he was an average performer last season. This Guingamp squad looks to have a strong starting XI but scratch beneath that surface and there are weaknesses. Several key figures are also pushing for moves away before the end of August: Sissoko, Sidibe and Siwe could all leave. The president has admitted publicly that they could lose all of these players. Guingamp look steady for the moment, but their fortunes are delicately balanced.