Bastia hosts Rodez for the first summer friendly

Bastia (Ligue 3) will welcome Rodez this Friday, July 10, at 11 a.m. in the La Roque stadium, Onet‑le‑Château, marking the first rehearsal of the season. After two weeks of training, Rodez’s “blood and gold” will test their new signings against a side coached by Laurent Peyrelade, former Raf manager.

Why does this duel matter for Rodez?

The fixture replaces the originally planned match against Pau and lets Rodez limit travel, a point praised by coach Didier Santini. “In recent years we’ve travelled a lot for friendlies,” he noted, stressing the value of playing on a large pitch before the Mallemort camp. The game will open the playing‑time clock and fine‑tune habits, especially for summer newcomers Antonin Cartillier and Mathis Touho.

Who will be on the field?

The selected squad also includes youngsters Joshua Ndiefi, Antoine Caubet and Djibril Mavounia. In goal, Lucas Margueron is expected to start over Quentin Braat, while Enzo Crombez, slated for the Cannes match, will sit out Friday. Santini said he will field two completely different elevens each half to evaluate every player under varied conditions.

Bastia’s season context

Bastia now competes in Ligue 3 after last season’s relegation and aims to bounce back under Peyrelade. In Ligue 2, the club sits 17th with 28 points (5 W‑13 D‑16 L) and a record of 23 goals scored and 39 conceded, a –16 goal difference. They trail leaders Estac Troyes by 39 points and will host Quevilly on October 31, 2026. These numbers highlight the gap they must close to climb the table.

What lessons lie ahead?

The friendly will give Rodez a glimpse of its form before the Mallemort camp. For Bastia, it’s a chance to gauge squad progress and gear up for the Ligue 3 campaign. Both teams can tweak tactics, try new combos and build cohesion before the official start of the championship.