Paris (AFP)

Start 2020 with a first place in the Ligue 2 ranking, the opportunity makes Troyes salivate. In case of victory Friday in Clermont (20:00) for the 20th day, the Estac will be leader for at least three days.

After four straight wins to close 2019, the Trojans have the opportunity to dominate the championship for the first time in the season by extending their series, "superb" according to coach Laurent Battles.

A victory in Auvergne would propel the Aubois, third with 38 points, ahead of Lens (1st, 40 pts) and Lorient (2nd, 39 pts).

The Sang et Or saw their match at Guingamp, originally scheduled for Saturday, postponed to January 18, the Breton club being in mourning after the sudden death of its player Nathaël Julan in a road accident.

As for the Lorientais, they will only play on Monday (8:45 pm) against the Stade Malherbe de Caen which marks time in 13th place (21 pts).

In Clermont, the Trojans will bet on the reinforcement of their first winter recruit, midfielder Rominigue Kouamé. At 23, the Malian international was loaned by Lille until the end of the season.

Below the podium, AC Ajaccio will have a lot to play on Friday against Grenoble. The Corsicans, fourth, have indeed lost their last two meetings and are relegated to five points from the podium.

"The point, we will do it in mid-April, early May, to see if we are still in the game. There, we will attack the second part of the season without taking the lead," timed Olivier Pantaloni, the Ajaccian coach , at a press conference.

To be followed in particular on Friday, the debut in Ligue 2 of two new coaches.

René Girard, 2012 French champion with Montpellier, surprised his world by agreeing to join Paris FC, the current penultimate in the ranking. "I am 65 years old but what do I do? I lie down and wait? No, I still have a lot of desire and freshness. I could have gone to the facility, a destination where there is sun, where it's cooler, but that's not what attracted me, "he said upon arrival. At Sochaux (9th, 27 points), the freshness of Girard will therefore be tested.

In Niort (18th, 17 pts), host of Le Havre (7th, 29 pts), will also be scrutinized the first steps of Jean-Philippe Faure, the former assistant of Pascal Plancque, who left after elimination in the Coupe de France against fans of the JS Saint-Pierroise. But that should not last: the president of Chamois Karim Fradin assured that the club hoped to find a new trainer next week.

Program for the 20th day of Ligue 2:

Friday:

(8:00 p.m.) AC Ajaccio - Grenoble

Nancy - Valenciennes

Sochaux - Paris FC

Niort - Le Havre

Rodez - Châteauroux

Chambly - Orleans

Le Mans - Auxerre

Clermont - Troyes

On Monday:

(8:45 p.m.) Lorient - Caen

Postponed to Saturday January 18:

(6.30 p.m.) Guingamp - Lens

© 2020 AFP