BESANCON. Red Star are currently experiencing a difficult week following the defeat at Reims. Thus an away win at Besançon would help put things back onto order. The squad retained by coach Repellini for the trip consists of : Branger, Tacalfred, Natchimie, Traoré, Faye, Thiam, Richard, Busuttil, Abda, Ferhaoui, Gomes Varela, Hutteau, Randget, Van Kets. Note the inclusion of youngster Macedo Gomes Varela, born 13th November 1982 at La Garenne-Colombes, regular reserve team striker in the CFA 2, as well as the return of marksman Patrick Van Kets.
Going back to the Reims match, the website of the Stade de Reims have gone completely overboard about the Richard - Diamé incident. Whilst we DO NOT condone violent or foul play we do find their reactions are a little bit over the top and provocative. "Serial Killer of the Northern Suburbs" was one reaction. From our vantage point high in the stands, it is difficult to pass judgement, but several things are clear.
Yes, the tackle was late and not one of the cleanest seen at Marville.
I wouldn't say that Fabrice Richard is a dirty player. Physical, yes, but isn't that the job of a center half ?
The offence only received a yellow card. Had the tackle been from behind, then following official guidleines Richard would have walked. The referee, who was close to the action and who had the aid of his assistant referee (linesman) didn't feel that the tackle merited a red card.
If Richard had been the last defender, tackle from behind or from the side, he would have walked. Brahim Thiam was in the position of last defender so that's why no red card was produced.
Could it be possible that the injury was sustained when the attacker fell awkwardly, even diving in order to gain a free kick (although that appears unlikely).
Final point: Reims say that "the Official Red Star site carried a sarcastic apology for the Richard - Diamé incident." I hope that they are not referring to this site, as I can't recollect the official site carrying an apology. If they are, then I can state clearly that the apology we carried was sincere and in no way sarcastic.
Whatever, it just about sums up the shitty season which Red Star is having.
COUPE GAMBARDELLA, A DERBY. In the draw for the next round of the competition, Red Stars' near neighbours Le Bourget have struck gold in drawing Saint-Etienne. Red Star, meanwhile have an away trip to the Porte de Montreuil to play Paris FC, Sunday March 4th.
RED STAR – CHANTILLY . On Sunday 25th February at 3pm CET, Christophe Fiattes' reserve team are at home to Chantilly (13th). Coach at Chantilly is former pro with Lille, Louhans-Cuiseaux and Beauvais Fabrice Vandeputte. Alongside him he has Ludovic Jumel, another ex-Beauvais and Amiens man. Match is at Pierrefitte, Stade Roger Fréville, 89 rue Nungesser et Coli (bus 168 or 268). Photo during a friendly match at Pierrefitte between Red Star 93 and Créteil in 1996.
Other games : Créteil – Chaumont, Senlis – Ivry, Saint-Dizier – Evry, Blénod – Moissy-Cramayel, Châlons – Poissy, Tinqueux – Paris SG, Toul – Auxerre.
CHAMPIONNAT DE FRANCE. The under 17s play Mulhouse, Sunday 3pm CET, Ile des Vannes, Saint-Ouen.
APOLOGY. An apology to IAN, as mentioned in the Soapbox of Wednesday. Ian is in fact an English supporter of Red Star but who lives in Paris. Glad to have cleared that one up !

STEVE MARLET, TOP MAN. Arsenal fans may not necessarily agree with this sentiment, but tant pis. In the newspaper L'Equipe before the Champions' League clash at Highbury, Lyon striker Steve Marlet gave an interview to journalist Bernard Lions.
"Whatever happens, you'll never change ?"
"It's funny, people often ask me that question. I am still the Steve of Red Star. It's a question of education".
PIERREFITTE. The remainder of this seasons' CFA 2 reserve team home games will take place at Pierrefitte (Stade Roger Fréville), kick off 3pm CET with the exception of the vital clash with Chaumont which will take place at Stade Marville, Sunday 11th March.
COUPE DE PARIS. On Sunday the under-15s play in the Coupe de Paris : Red Star 93 – Torcy.
DSR. An away match at Gonesse, Sunday February 25th for a league game.

RED STAR - REIMS. In yesterdays' report we omitted to bring you the list of bookings handed out by Monsieur Cailleux : for Red Star - Saci (24), Thiam (38), Richard (78), Ferhaoui (78), Tacalfred (88) and for Reims – Ducourtioux (19), Létang (53). Despite the seven cards, the game wasn't that dirty, and perhaps only Richards' tackle from behind on Reims striker Gaston Diamé (pictured) was nasty. The latter, recently arrived at Reims from Bourges, and scorer of the visitors' second goal will be absent for a while, with a broken right leg. We wish him a speedy recovery. Reims are still in the CUp, and have a next round tie with Bastia and ex-Red Star man Cyril Domoraud.
RESERVES : EVRY 0 RED STAR 1 (0-0). . Referee : M. Villemin - goal: Van Kets (15).
Bookings : Rodriguez (80) - Faye (76), Sangar (83).
EVRY : Chavenon, Rodriguez, Bonelli, Darsoulant, Phibel, R. Thodiard, Moutolé, Cerezo, Hernandez, Almeida, Corti. Coach : B. Touret.
RED STAR 93 : Bayiha, Faye, NGoma, Saxemard, R. Gomis, Gomes Varela (El Othmani, 87), Sangar, A. Gomis, Aïchour, Van Kets (Jolibois, 81), Milton. Coach : C. Fiatte.
Red Star took advantage of an awful mistake from Evry goalkeeper at the start of the game to open the score, a lob from Van Kets back after two months. A. Gomis, Aïchour and Sangar had good opportunities to extend the lead.
Other scores : Poissy – Blénod 1-0, Paris SG – Créteil 0-2, Chaumont – Senlis 2-0, Ivry – Toul 2-3, Chantilly – Châlons 0-0, Auxerre – Tinqueux 1-1 & Moissy-Cramayel – Saint-Dizier 3-0.
GAMBARDELLA. Our correspondants at Calais telephoned us to bring us details of the excellent Gambardella Cup win for Red Stars' under 17s. "A deserved win for the youngsters. Half time 0-0, Red Star led 1-0 before Calais equalised, then came the winning goal. Best player by mils was Traoré, a thorn in the side of his opponents. Another remarkable thing, the five hundred or so spectators present in the old stadium for the encounter - a game played fairly and competitvey despite the bumpy pitch." Red Stars' first XI, providing they avoid the drop could well be back to a revamped Stade Julien Denis next season, as last years' cup finalists are now top of their group of the CFA.

REACTIONS. Le Parisien published the views of several long-standing Red Star supporters in its Saturday edition. Stéphane Corby interviewed some and here are extracts from their reactions:

Olivier H. (46, Paris, supporter for 22 years) :
"This club has always had a rollercoaster history. Bras is comparable to (Bernard) Tapie, except that Tapie won the European Cup. In the 1980s ...Bras saved the club but now he's had his time and should go and Red Star should return to Bauer"
Philippe L. (30, Saint-Ouen, supporter for 20 years) :
"With all the money won last season, Red Star had everything it needed for success. Buying Cascarino was a good idea, but then taking on Van Kets, that was stupid ! I can't see the club surviving in the National"
Tony M. (17, Cormeilles-en-Parisis, supporter for 11 years) :
"All the troubles stem from moving to Marville. Bauer was home for all the supporters."
Stéphane D. (48, La Courneuve, supporter for 12 years) :
"Red Star is a shining example for a region infamous for its problems. The club is lucky to have a President who knows football and now he must bang his fist on the table to stir the players into action"
Christian B. (53, Nîmes, supporter for 39 years) :
"I'm secretary of En avant Red Star 93, a supporters' group. For two seasons we have let go thirty players at the same time recruiting from a lower level. The case of Girardot - it shouldn't have been hil who left but the people who brought him here in the first place."
Pierre H. (21, Paris, supporter for 13 years) :
"We have lost players such as Agasson, Mauricio or even Valéri. The directors should have fought to keep the best elements of the youngsters."
Stéphane U. (27, Villeneuve-la-Garenne, supporter for 18 years) :
"Red Star is catastrophic ! There is deeep-seated illness in the club, and no-one seems to want to react. Leaving for Marville broke something. The stadium has no character, and we lost all our clubs' values when the President decided to make them wear red. The players don't identify with the area."

RED STAR - REIMS. Youngster Yoann Randgets' (photo) goal wasn't quite enough, and Red Star slump to their thirteenth defeat of the season in the league. Horrible.
TRAVEELING ARMY. Just as well that visitors Reims brought easily the largest away support of the season to Marville, otherwise this would have been the lowest attendance ever at Marville. Note that in the TinCanStand opposite, amidst the throng of Remois, two solitary Red Star supporters.
WHY NOT ?. Seeing as Red Star have just about hit rock bottom, and to prevent further defections from the ranks, perhaps it would be a good idea to drop admission prices until the end of the season ?
RED STAR BACK IN GREEN. Red Star reverted back to their traditional colours of green after two years wearing red. Fat load of good it did, as the team still lost. You can change the wrapper, but it's still the same rotten product inside.
FABRICE RICHARD. Struck down with a cold during the week before the game, Fabrice Richard recovered enough to take his place in the starting line-up while cover player Rudy Perron watched the game from the stands.
MESSAGE. Before the kick-off, a message was read out by PA announcer Jean-Claude Maucourant to the ffect of "All the members and directors of the club express their support and solidarity to the president Jean-Claude Bras". Hmmm.
MINUTE DE SILENCE. A minutes' silence was erspected in memory of Hocine Seghiri, Red Star supporter.
NOT FORGOTTEN. Serge Leugueuen (photo), was also present at Marville. He arrived at the beginning of the season, but missed most of it due to a knee injury. He is now awaiting surgery.
CFA 2. On Saturday at Evry, Red Star reserves beat their hosts 1-0 with a goal from Patrick Van Kets. Elsewhere co-leaders Moissy-Cramayel thumped Saint-Dizier 3-0 and third placed Chaumont are still just one point behind following their win over Senlis 1-0.
NATIONAL. Bad day for Red Star, with neighbours Noisy-le-Sec winning 1-0 at Valence, Pacy-sur-Eure beat leaders Grenoble 1-0 and Pau drawing with Besançon 1-1. Istres beat Valenciennes away 1-0 to top the table with a three point advance on Amiens winners at Ajaccio 1-0. Clermont hammered Louhans-Cuiseaux 5-1. Elsewhere : Brest – Alès 2-0, Thouars – Racing 0-3, Dijon – La Roche-sur-Yon 3-3. Next games Saturday 24th Feb, with one match on Friday, Besançon – Red Star (8pm CET).
BYE BYE NATIONAL. THIRTEEN points behind Valenciennes, TWELVE behind Louhans-Cuiseaux, TEN on Besançon, NINE Noisy-le-Sec, are the grim figures behind Red Stars' plight. Pau and Pacy-sur-Eure are eight end three points ahead of us respectively, Red Star are 19th, five ahead of bottom club Thouars.
GAMBARDELLA. Red Stars' under-17s march on with a 2-1 win away at Calais. Bravo !
OUCH !. Meanwhile the under-15s received a 5-0 home drubbing at the hands of Metz.

NEWS. Back for tomorrow nights' important clash against Reims are Kader Ferhaoui, Patrick Van Kets(photo, right) and Brahim Thiam (photo, left), the scapegoat for the 6-1 drubbing at Clermont. Repellini will name his final selection during training this afternoon.
RED STAR MOVE UP. Without even kicking a ball, too ! No, last nights' match between Pacy-sur-Eure and Amiens ended in a 2-0 defeat for the home side, which puts Red Star above Pacy on goal difference. Red Star are now 18th.
EVRY – RED STAR 93. At 6pm CET tomorrow night, the Reserves get their game underway at Evry. The match takes place at the Stade Desroys du Roure, 2 rue Robert Pissonnier. Evry are currently 9th some 13 points behinf their visitors. Coach at evry is Bernard Touret, with the club since 1996. Photo : Arthur Gomis
COUPE GAMBARDELLA. On Sunday at Calais (2-30pm CET, Stade Julien Denis, avenue Saint-Exupéry), Red Star 93s' youngsters play the next round of the Coupe Gambardella. For those living on the SOuth coast of England, why not jump on a ferry and nip across for the day - watch the match then fill the van up with cheap booze and fags later on in the day ? Red Stars' kids would appreciate the support !
CHAMPIONNAT DE FRANCE . The Under 15s of Red Star 93 are at home to Metz, Sunday 3pm CET, Stade de l'Ile-des-Vannes, Saint-Ouen.

SORRY !. For the lack of updates since Monday. Flu struck in a big way !
BACK TO BAUER. On Tuesday afternoon, the players trained at the Stade Bauer, spiritual home of Red Star. For several players, this was the first time that they had seen the real Red Star stadium, seeped with history. Really, this is a good move - not only do the "outsiders" get to know what Red Star really means but this could be one of the first steps in getting the club back to Saint-ouen. Photo : Red Star – Reims, in the 1960s : Gaidoz (Reims) shoots, under the eyes of from left to right (3), Jecker, Akesbi (grounded), Dantheny and Manzano.
Still involved with Red Star are both Brahim Thiam and Hakim Saci, whose possible departures from the club have been put onto a back burner for the moment. They are therefore training with their erstwhile colleagues.
JEAN-LUC GIRARD OUT. Bad news for Jean-Luc Girard, one of the most loyal of Red Stars' staff. A knee injury has sidelined the current assistant coach, former player with the club from 1986 to 1997. Our best wishes go out to Gigi.
RESERVES NEWS. Red Stars' reserves are back at Evry on Saturday for a match, this time at the old stadium by the River Seine. They will play the club which was in the National last season before an enforced relegation into CFA 2 for financial reasons. Their money problems seem not to have abated, as they are still experiencing severe problems. Despite this, the players won their last game, 2-0 at Châlons-en-Champagne. Other games this weekend are : Moissy-Cramayel – Saint-Dizier, Chaumont – Senlis, Ivry – Toul, Paris SG – Créteil, Auxerre – Tinqueux, Poissy – Blénod & Châlons – Auxerre.
In the Under 15s, Red Star 93 lost their first game on the second phase of their championship, going down 2-1 at Amiens. Meanwhile their elder breatheren, then Under-17s suffered yet another postponement, their fifth of the season !

RED STAR RESERVES BACK ON TOP. At the Stade Robert Bobin, Evry, Red Star, the "home" club won for the ninth time this season. Red Star raced into a commanding three goal lead against visitors Saint-Dizier, but a second half revival meant that Red Star had to hold on to their victory by their fingernails. Final score 3-2. Enis Saïti, created the first goal for Gérald Milton on nineteen minutes. Then in a period of three minutes, from the 33rd to the thirty sixth minute, Red Star scored twice, the first by Djebrane Abda from a cross by Arthur Gomis and the second by Walid Aïchour from a Milton cross.
After the pause, a handball by Mickaël Azoulay in his own penalty area gave a penalty to Saint-Dizier, duly despatched by David Pierrat. One minute after and Damien Deom (photo) came to the rescue as a second goal seemed likely, before in the 79th minute, Kevin Martin powered a header past Bayiha to reduce the score to 3-2.
RED STAR 93 : Bayiha, Azoulay, R. Gomis, D. Deom, Traoré, Abda (Guidali 83), Sangar, Milton, Aïchour, Saïti, A. Gomis (Gomes Varela 63). Other sub Fuanda Kinkela. Coach. C. Fiatte.
Goals : Milton (19), Abda (33), Aïchour (36) – Pierrat (75, penalty), Martin (79). Bookings : A. Gomis (69), Sangar (80)
The win takes Red Star into joint leadership with Moissy-Cramayel, who could only manage a goalless draw at Créteil 0-0. Chaumont are now only one point behind. Next Saturday, Red Star are back at Evry, but at the old stadium to play the locals.
Bit of a colemanballs for the referees.... on the internet site of the FFF, the two assistants were noted as : IMPRATICABLE 8000 TERRAIN and IMPRATICABLE 8005 TERRAIN. In fact, two assistant referees were drawn from the meagre crowd present, so local leagues official Robert Lebret ran one line, whilst Red Stars' M. Sarrea ran the other. A good performance, whatever the odds !
As mentioned previously, the attendance was pitifully small, with just a handful of journalists, club officials and five paying members of the public in a stadium with a capacity of 20 000.
Red Star reserves next home game is at Pierrefitte.

NEWS DIGEST. In the Under 15s this weekend, the second phase of the championship gets underway. First outing for Red Star, after finishing runners-up to RC Lens in the first phase of the competition will be a trip to Amiens, where the kick off of the game game at the Stade Moulonguet is 3pm CET.
Red Star are in the same group as Metz, Nancy, Strasbourg & Villepinte. First home game is on Sunday 18th February against Metz.
This afternoon at 3pm CET, at Ermont there willbe a training game between two teams made of of players from Red Star 93. Tomorrow will see a trining session at Marville (10am CET) and Sunday is a rest day. There are some national games taking place in this weekend - Brest v Racing CP and Noisy-le-Sec v Pau.
The third XI have a game on Sunday, 3-30pm CET at Neuilly-Plaisance.
In the COUPE DE FRANCE, Levallois (CFA), who were eliminated from the competition last season by Red Star 0-1, face D2 outfit Wasquehal together wil ex-Red Star man Richard Akiana. The game takes place at Colombes, k-o 5pm CET.

SAFET SUSIC IN SAUDI ARABIA. Safet Susic, former Red Star and Paris Saint-Germain hero has joined the Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal for a period of sixteen months. He has been out of work since leaving Turkey.
NATIONAL. Cable TV station TV Breizh will have live coverage of six of Brests' matches; this does not include, however, the game between Brest and Red Star 93 on the 7th of April. Another slight disadvantage of the service is that you have to live in Brittany and speak the Breton language !
News from Amiens is that over 260 000 have watched games at their new stadium in eighteen months of existence (includes championship, cup and international games) Just to note that some English clubs do that in less than ten games ! . Amiens hope to celebrate their forthcoming centenary with promotion to the second division. Remember also that Red Star celebrated their centenary at the old stadium in Amiens, on the 12th March 1997. Photo : on that day, Samuel Boutal is pictured, ahead of Josef Keller.
LECORNU. Interviewed in the Métro free newspaper "A nous Paris", Patrice Lecornu, now Youth Development Director at Paris Saint-Germain, but formerly at Red Star 93, recalled some of the successes of PSGs' youth policy - Anelka, Domi, Ducrocq, Distin - while at the same time remembering his days with the Saint-Ouen club. He and his colleagues have produced talents such as Marlet, Agasson, Fellahi, Samba and Fousseni Diawara, Fadiga, Doukantie, Meïté, Michel, Mauricio, Valéri … all that on a tight budget. Patrice Lecornu and his team did a fantastic job at the club and his successors appear to be carrying on the good work.

CENTRE DE FORMATION. We were asked a question by one of our readers as to the future of the Centre de Formation, or Academy at Red Star 93, should Red Star be relegated into the CFA. Firstly, we sincerely hope that our club won't be relegated, and that the Ligue Nationale de Football will grant us another year of prfessional club status. Failing that, it would be a first for French football to have a CFA club with an Academy.
TWELVE DAYS. Pierre Repellini and his coaching staff have twelve days in which to prepare for the match at home to Stade de Reims. He should have a full squad available, with the injured Faye and N'Goma (photo) back in training, as should be Kader Ferhaoui.
OOPS SCOTTIES. Colemanballs by us in yesterdays' news section - in fact Red Star have scored twice so far this season, we forgot Mickaël Pizzos' consolation goal at Alès. Sorry, Mickaël. In addition, Alès won on Saturday evening against GFCO Ajaccio by 3-0 and not 2-0 as we mentioned.
RICHARD AKIANA IN FORM. Unfortunately not for Red Star 93, but with his new club Wasquehal. An 83rd minute substitute, with virtually his first kick of the game he scored his sides' second goal a minute later.

NEXT WEEK AT EVRY. Nothing to do ? No first team game ? Then why not pop along to the Stade Robert Bobin at Evry, 3pm CET, for the reserve team game against Saint-Dizier, struggling somewhat in 15th place in the league. Founded in 1933, as a result of the merger between Jeunesse Prolétarienne and the CS Compagnie des Forges. The club even reached the heady heights of D2 in 1986 for two seasons. In 1986-87 : Saint-Dizier – Red Star 3-1 & 1-1. In 1995, Alexander Zavarov, Ukraine international and ex-Juventus and Nancy played out his career with the club of the Haute-Marne. Coach since 1999 is Claude Tsikamen Bagze. Earlier this season Red Star reserves won thanks to two goals from Gérald Milton and one from Djebrane Abda.

BAD DAY AT THE OFFICE. Not the best of weekends for Red Star 93 (apart from the reserves, that is). Defeat at Grenoble, then Besançon beat Dijon 2-0, which means that there are now nine points between Red Star and Besançon, synonymous with safety. Noisy-le-Sec had their game against Pau wiped out by the weather, as did Louhans-Cuiseaux against Thouars. Both of these games have been rescheduled for next weekend. At the other end of the table, good results for Grenoble and for Istres, who beat Brest 2-1. Clermont slumped against Racing 2-3, whilst Amiens are back in the frame following their 2-0 win against Valence 2-0. Other results : La Roche-sur-Yon thumped Valenciennes 5-2, Reims beat Pacy 2-0 and Alès continued their good form beating GFCO Ajaccio 2-0.
POST-MATCH. Olivier Saragaglia, former Grenoble player was the only Red Star player to pass comment at the end of the game. He said "Grenoble are really solid. The team is a unit difficult to destabilise, and they can make a difference with their individual skills too. Of this match, we had a good first half, but the arrival of David was bad for us. With him Grenoble stepped up a gear and found an opening. If they continue like that, I can't see them not going up."
BEST OF A BAD BUNCH. According to our correspondant at Grenoble, Didier, the best players for Red Star were Thierry Saxemard (photo) and Hakim Saci.
ANDRE. Despite not playing competitive football since his departure from Red Star 93, Joël André is back in form with his new club Grenoble. He was described as a "complete footballer" in a report of the game. Another recent recruit at Grenoble, a Yugoslave formerly with Obilic, Gabriel Radojicic scored for his new club.
NEXT GAME. Two weeks elapse before the next game, at home to Reims, the divisions' draw specialists. Patrick Van Kets, back in training could be at the point of attack for Red Star, a strike force which has yet to find the net in 2001, as the goal against Noisy was an own goal scored by a Noisy defender.
CFA 2. The two leaders in the CFA2 drew 1-1, which allowed Chaumont who thumped Ivry 4-0 to gain a little ground. Other results : Toul beat Paris SG 1-0, Blénod - Evry 0-0, Saint-Dizier – Châlons 0-0, Chantilly – Tinqueux 2-0, Créteil – Poissy 0-0 & Auxerre – Senlis 1-0. Next game, next Saturday against Saint-Dizier, at Evry because they haven't anywhere else to go !
CHAMPIONNAT DE FRANCE.Under 17s, good win at Saint-Dizier for Red Star, 3-0.
DSR. Red Star 93 lost away at Paris SG, 3-4.

ALL EARS TOWARDS GRENOBLE. The players left Paris this morning in TGV, direction Grenoble. For this vital clash, Pierre Repellini has made three changes to the side beaten at home to Noisy last weekend. In come goalkpper Jean-Marc Branger (photo), formerly on Grenobles' books, while Kader Ferhaoui is replaced by Yoann Randget and Franck Busuttil takes the shirt of Djebrane Abda. The squad is : Branger, Perron, Tacalfred, Richard, Saxemard, Natchimie, Busuttil, Saragaglia, Pizzo, Hutteau, Serreau, Castro, Saci, Rangdet.
The return is planned for Sunday morning.
Photo : Frédéric Guéguen (Grenoble) in combat with Patrick Van Kets watched by Walid Aïchour
CFA 2. Tomorrow afternoon, at 6pm CET, at the Stade André Tremet, rue de Noisement, Moissy-Cramayel, Red Star reserves take on the current leaders of the CFA 2, hpoing to put behind them last weeks' setback at Blénod. A tough match is in store, as Moissy are going all-out for promotion to the CFA. Coach is Daniel Zerhinger, former pro at Strasbourg before arriving at Saint-Ouen during the time of Roger Lemerre (season 85-86). The team from the region Seine-et-Marne have bothe the best attack and the best defence. At the Stade Pablo Neruda, Saint-Ouen, earlier in the season, the game ended in a honourable draw. In case of victory, Red Star will go joint top of the table with their opponents.

Red Star – Moissy-Cramayel, in a pre-season friendly, August 2000. Morad El Othmani (green shirt) surrounded by the Moissy defence.

Other matches are : Chaumont (3rd)– Ivry (6th), Paris SG (9th) – Toul (13th), Auxerre (12th)– Senlis (7th), Poissy (4th) – Créteil (5th), Chantilly (14th) – Tinqueux (10th), Evry (11th) – Blénod (16th), Saint-Dizier (15th) – Châlons (8th).
COUPE DE LA LIGUE. In the League Cup several ex-Red Star players featured : firstly Alexandre Dujeux (photo) with Châteauroux who knocked out first division Bordeaux 1-0. Incidentally, in the reserves at Châteauroux is Didier Thimothée, on the way back following a knee operation. Samuel Boutal found the net for Troyes as did the inevitable Steve Marlet for Lyon, Bertrand Piton and Ludovic Mary starred with Niort as did Karim Fellahi and Fousseni Diawara with Saint-Etienne, Cédric Fontaine and coach Denis Troch at Amiens, and not forgetting assistant coach at Nantes, Georges Eo

IT WAS JUST ONE YEAR AGO. Red Star thrashed Grenoble 3-0 on their own turf. Can they pull off a miracle again ? Let's hope so.
Pierre Repellini could make several changes. The players who missed the Noisy debacle through suspension should be back, and even Patrick Van Kets is back in training.
Photo : Red Star - Grenoble : J.P. Yao battles with Castro
GRENOBLE. Coach Alain Michel will try to avoid complacency in his camp. He can draw on a squad of proven players with experience : goalkeeper Frédéric Guéguen (ex Châteauroux & Niort), Jean-Pascal Yao ( ex Valence), Laurent Debrosse (ex Châteauroux & Niort), Cyrille Courtin (ex- Niort). Players who have already played in D2 and hope to get back there.
Less impressive in attack, although Grenoble do posess several dangerous threats : top scorer Mickaël Dogbé (11), a real revelation, as last season he was playing in local Paris football at Linas-Monthléry and brother of Nantes' Eric Carrière, Cyrille who has scored five times. In midfield are Hervé Milazzo (ex Mulhouse) Désiré Periamtabée (Auxerre youth team), Laurent David (ex Mulhouse / Amiens).
LAST SATURDAY AT MARVILLE. Amongst ex-Red Star players present at Marville on Saturday, were Robert Pintenat (photos), former international who played at Bauer in the 1970's.