Grenoble vs Clermont Foot - Ligue 2

All eyes turn to the home ground on September 18, 2026 as Grenoble welcome Clermont Foot in a Ligue 2 encounter that promises tension, intrigue and no shortage of subplot. Mason Mount has been outstanding for Man Utd in pre-season but he could still face fierce competition for a place in Michael Carrick's side next season.

The standings paint a clear picture: Grenoble in 12th, Clermont Foot in 16th, and both keen to climb. The hosts have mirrored the form of a side still searching for rhythm — W over their last five, a win rate of 33.33%. Clermont Foot are searching for answers away from home, D over their last five with a campaign win rate of 0%. Goals could be in short supply or plentiful — Grenoble average 1.17 per game to Clermont Foot's 0.5, and that gap may dictate the rhythm of the contest. Larson’s long-term plans have attracted renewed attention following teammate Alex Bowman’s recent announcement that he intends to retire from full-time Cup Series competition at the end of the 2027 season.

Tactically, the contest promises a fascinating contrast. Grenoble will look to impose their style on home soil, while Clermont Foot are likely to have ideas of their own about how to gain the upper hand. The Germany club were said to be looking for an out-and-out striker to allow Harry Kane to play a deeper role, and made an approach for Sesko in 2024.

With Y. Fofana leading the league's scoring charts at 5 goals, the contest is unlikely to be short of attacking intent. Set-piece specialists and aerial threats on both sides mean dead-ball situations could carry outsized importance. But United aren't budging—they still consider the Slovenian striker central to Michael Carrick's long-term project at Old Trafford.

Predicting an outright winner is no easy task given how little separates the two sides on paper. On balance, Grenoble look well-placed to claim all three points, and a 2-1 home win would not come as a surprise. Whatever the outcome, the Ligue 2 fixture promises a meaningful contest with real implications for both clubs. It is understood that his next move is most likely to take him abroad - and potentially to the Premier League.