Football Season Guide

Fallen all the way down from the Ligue 1 to the Championnat National 3 in 2016-2017 following financial issues, SC Bastia at last managed to return among the professionals thanks to their third promotion in the last three years. Last season, they took the Championnat National by storm, making the top of the table right from week 1 and maintaining it for most of the campaign, finishing 8 points above the runners-up, Quevilly. They topped all the charts of the league, scoring most goals, 57, conceding the least, 28, being best hosts and best travellers and this thanks to coach Mathieu Chabert, who has been leading them in the two latest promotions after bringing AS Béziers among the professionals for the first time in their history a couple of years before. The 47-year-old coach, who usually adopts a rather offensive 4-3-3 formation, was confirmed at the helm of the team even though his experience at this level is limited, having faced immediate relegation in his sole participation to the Ligue 2 with Béziers. Bastia have been quite active over the summer, both in terms of arrivals and departures, but managed to maintain the backbone of the squad that achieved promotion. To this date, their main striker, Da Silva, who provided them with 12 goals and 5 assists, is the sole starter to have left for pastures new. Moreover, they lost 2 right-backs, Assignon and Cioni, and some back-up players in the other departments. While Da Silva’s departure has not been tackled yet, thus leaving them without a prolific striker, although they can score from the wings, 35-year-old Robic had 11 goals to his name last season, firstly they managed to have Ducrocq’s and Vincensini’s loans re-confirmed: the two were starters in the past campaign. Then, they strengthened the defence with Palun, a goalie with Ligue 2 experience, Sainati, a reliable centre-back, and Kaïboué, a versatile defender/midfielder with plenty of potential. Bastia are a good mix of quality and experience but are too short offensively at the moment. Not just 1 but at least 2 or 3 signings are needed soon.