Saint Etienne vs Rodez - Ligue 2

All eyes turn to the home ground on October 10, 2026 as Saint Etienne welcome Rodez in a Ligue 2 encounter that promises tension, intrigue and no shortage of subplot. O'Neill made five changes for Celtic's midweek win at St Johnstone as he rested some key players ahead of Sunday's clash.

Saint Etienne head into the contest positioned 1st in the Ligue 2 standings, while Rodez arrive sitting 11th. Saint Etienne are operating at a remarkable level, their L run and a season win rate of 83.33% placing them among the Ligue 2's very best. The visitors have been hard to predict on their travels, L in their last five reflecting a win rate of 33.33%. The contrast in attacking output — 2.83 versus 1.83 goals per game — adds an extra layer of intrigue. Leeds will not improve on their third offer but have left it on the table in case Saints reconsider their position.

The touchline duel between the two managers adds another layer of intrigue, with both likely to tweak their setups in search of a decisive edge. In attack, Brazilian forward Kaua Elias has emerged as a name of interest, with United scouts watching the Shakhtar Donetsk striker after his hat‑trick against Kudrivka on Monday.

All eyes will be on the league's leading marksman Y. Fofana, whose 5 goals this season make him the standout threat and a player capable of deciding the outcome on his own. The battle in midfield, where both sides look to control tempo, could prove the decisive arena. Aston Villa have beaten Newcastle to the signing of Johan Manzambi after completing a club-record £59.5m deal for the midfielder from Freiburg.

Predictions are tricky when the sides are this evenly matched, and small margins — a moment of quality, a slice of luck — could decide it either way. On balance, Saint Etienne look well-placed to claim all three points, and a 3-2 home win would not come as a surprise. With the standings tight and form on the line, this is a fixture neither side will want to lose. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Liverpool's midfield wasn't great last year but I expect Florian Wirtz to have a better season, 100 per cent.