Hallescher vs St. Pauli Prediction & Betting Tips (16 August)

After having spent 3 years at the highest level of French football, Clermont was forced and forced to return to Ligue 2. The fault of a completely failed last exercise punctuated by a place at the bottom of the red and a huge defeat suffered by Lorient 5-0 on the last day. The Auvergne club also closed a book on its history this summer following the departure of its historic coach Pascal Gastien who was replaced by his assistant Sébastien Bichard at the head of the first team. He will have the heavy responsibility of relaunching a team which experienced a very complicated last season in an attempt to quickly return to the elite. This summer, the Clermontois were held to a draw by Saint-Etienne 1-1, Le Havre 1-1 and Annecy 1-1. They will then have to face Paris FC and Rodez. Pau, for its part, did not come far from securing a place in the play-offs last season.

Not initially expected to play the leading roles in this Ligue 2 championship, this team nevertheless took the final 10th place in the ranking, failing at the end in the race for the top 5. There is no doubt that Nicolas Usaï's players will wish to do so at the end. not as good this year. During the summer preparation, the Béarnais drew against Toulouse 2-2 before sinking against Marseille. They will also want to relaunch against Martigues, Rodez and Bergerac.

Clermont logically lost many elements following the descent. This is the case of striker Kyei (Standart de Liège) of wingers Diakité (Villefranche) and Allevinah (Angers) while defenders Zeffane and Ogier, midfielder Gonalons and striker Bela were not extended. Finally, striker Nicholson (Spartak Moscow), winger Virginius (Lille), defender Matsima (Monaco) and defender Jacquet (Rennes) returned to their club after their loan period. The Auvergnats still recorded some reinforcements with the arrivals in particular of goalkeeper Guivarch (Neuchatel Max), Damien Da Silva (Melbourne Victory), midfielder Ackra (Sochaux), the always very interesting Henri Saivet (Pau) and the striker Bongué (GOAL FC). Loaned to Dunkirk last season, promising midfielder Maurer is back. Pau also lost many key players this summer, starting with its best attackers such as Moussa Sylla (Schalke 04, 15 goals, 7 assists), Mons Bassouamina (free, 11 goals) and Henri Saivet (Clermont, 8 goals, 4 passes).

Defender Sow (Sion) and midfielder Almeida (Apolon Limassol) also set sail while full-back Abzi (free) and midfielder Boli (free) were not extended. Loaned to the club last year, midfielder Mouton (Saint-Etienne) and striker Begraoui (Toulouse) returned to their initial team. In the opposite direction, only the experienced Bobichon (Laval) and the midfielder Mille (Châteauroux) arrived in the same way as the promising Arconte (Brest) who showed good things in Rodez on loan last year. The experienced striker Boutaïb (9 goals, 3 assists) is still very present in the squad. The probable line-ups for Clermont - Pau: Clermont: To comePau: To come.