ES Setif vs CS Constantine - Ligue 1

A fascinating Ligue 1 chapter awaits on September 19, 2026 when ES Setif take on CS Constantine at the home ground — two sides with plenty to play for and everything to prove. Ferencvaros v Real Madrid: Confirmed line-ups for Mourinho’s latest pre-season clash.

A glance at the Ligue 1 table tells the story: ES Setif in 15th and CS Constantine in 1st, with positions to defend and places to climb. ES Setif are in the midst of a difficult spell, L in their last five summing up a win rate of 0%. On their travels the visitors have been workmanlike, WD in their last five and a win rate of 50% to show for it. Goals could be in short supply or plentiful — ES Setif average 0 per game to CS Constantine's 2, and that gap may dictate the rhythm of the contest. Inter want to sign Curtis Jones, but as things stand their valuation falls well short of Liverpool's, especially in a market when other Premier League proven players in his position have moved for such big fees.

Set-piece efficiency and transition play often decide fixtures of this nature, and both managers will have been drilling those phases on the training ground. Anderson can still play proactively from deep, but he will have other technical players around him to lighten the load in possession, and zones to hit rather than always playing to feet.

Neither side is short on individuals capable of tilting the balance, and the duel between the two squads' chief creators could prove particularly pivotal. How each side deals with the other's danger men — and who takes their chances when they come — will be central to the outcome. Carl Rushworth is set to follow Welbeck out of the exit door as he makes his move to Coventry permanent, while defender Igor Julio does not feature in Hurzeler's plans and has interest from Espanyol and other clubs in Europe.

Without the market to lean on, the contest feels genuinely open — and the outcome may come down to which side handles the occasion better. Despite the home advantage enjoyed by ES Setif, the weight of evidence favours CS Constantine — a 0-2 away win is the call. More than just three points is on the line at the home ground — this is a fixture that could shape the narrative of both clubs' seasons. England captain Harry Kane is likely to sign a new deal to extend his stay at Bayern Munich despite interest from Barcelona.