Besançon vs Thaon - National 3 - Group F

The National 3 - Group F returns to Stade Léo Lagrange on April 25, 2026, where Besançon and Thaon will lock horns in a contest that could shape their respective campaigns. Anderson was pointing out that City had held the whip hand in this fixture "for as long as I've known", which isn't exactly inaccurate but will also fan the flames ahead of Sunday's Old Trafford showdown.

The two sides arrive with plenty to prove, and the National 3 - Group F contest at Stade Léo Lagrange offers a chance to lay down a marker. Besançon's recent form is difficult to quantify, but the occasion itself should bring the best out of them. Thaon's away form is hard to read, but they will arrive with the belief that they can trouble their hosts. The position of goalkeeper is vital in Fantasy Premier League.

Wing play is likely to be central to the contest. Besançon will look to stretch the pitch and isolate their wide attackers, while Thaon must find a way to compress the space and choke the supply lines. There is interest in adding another forward player who can play in one of those wide No 10 roles behind the striker in the 3-4-2-1 formation that Sage is expected to continue with at Selhurst Park.

The fixture is likely to be shaped by its key performers, with creative midfielders and clinical finishers on both sides capable of turning the game in an instant. The wide areas will be a key battleground, with full-backs and wingers on either side capable of swinging the contest one way or the other. If that happens before the summer transfer deadline, it's understood that a loan could be on the cards for the defender for the season.

The market has yet to form a strong view, and the contest looks genuinely difficult to call. Neither side holds a clear edge, and a 1-1 draw would be a fitting reflection of the balance between them. Whatever the outcome, the National 3 - Group F fixture promises a meaningful contest with real implications for both clubs. Joe Gomez is expected to miss the start of Liverpool's Premier League campaign through injury - but it is not likely to impact the Reds' transfer plans.