One of the "minnows" of the National make their second appearance at Stade Marville, with bad memories of a 4-1 thumping handed out by Red Star last season. For the return match in Normandy, Pacy managed to restore a little pride with a 1-1 draw, the visitors equalising in the very last minute.
In the National since season 1998-99, the Normans usually have to battle to save their skins towards the end of the season. Considering that only four thousand live in the commune, their achievements are really quite remarkable. Even more remarkable when you conside that home gates average between eight hundred to one thousand spectators. The home atmosphere gives a little advantage to the men of coach Laurent Hatton. An interested spectator on a spying misson during the match Red Star - Besançon, Hatton will be at La Courneuve this time looking for a positive result. Beaten last week 2-1 at Valenciennes, they come up against another of the pre-season promotion favourites also struggling in the basement of the National.
In view of their limited financial resources, the interseason was a period of relative tranquility on the transfer front. Aware of their weaknesses, Pacy were looking to recruit a new player, but a lack of money put paid to the deal. Thus, the onus will be on strikers Sébastien Cuvier and Olivier Hameau, the latter whom found the net seventeen times last season. Top scorer this season is Sébastien Cuvier with four, but Red Star must be wary of Congo international defender, Maurice N'Tounou, formerly with Red Star reserves in the CFA 2 and who has got onto the scoresheet twice this season.
In the Coupe de France last season, Pacy had a good run before being eliminated by D1 club Metz at the 1/32 final stage.
G. Valck
