Nancy beaten on the road in Ligny despite bright spots against Troyes

AS Nancy-Lorraine suffered a second pre-season setback on Saturday, losing 1-3 to Ligue 1-bound Troyes in Ligny-en-Barrois. Under stifling heat and against a technically superior side, the Les Nancéiens stayed in the game and fashioned several clear chances—enough to draw praise from manager Oswald Tanchot.

The kickoff was moved up to 11 a.m. to dodge the worst of the afternoon scorcher, yet the thermometer was already climbing by midday. Still, around 650 fans packed the André-Lepage stadium to watch a promising run-out for the home side, even if the scoreline went against them. Nancy sit 14th in Ligue 2 with 37 points from 34 games (9W-10D-15L), 30 points behind league leaders Troyes.

Why Saturday’s loss isn’t a red flag for Nancy

Facing a side already promoted to Ligue 1, Nancy were always up against it. Yet Tanchot’s players stayed compact, pressed well and fashioned chances—especially in the first half—proving they can mix it even when the opponent’s technical edge shows.

The gaffer singled out the attitude, calling the heat a bigger challenge than the result. With 35 goals scored and 52 conceded (goal difference -17), Nancy must tighten at the back if they’re to grind out better results.

Takeaways from a tough afternoon

Defensively, Mathis Picard and Yoann Cathline stood tall, while midfield runners kept feeding the strikers. Up front, chances came but were spurned—typical of pre-season when sharpness is still finding its edge.

The early kickoff helped avoid the worst of the heat, yet fatigue crept in as the game wore on. Still, the display offered enough to build on ahead of the competitive curtain-raiser.

Next up: home date with Red Star

Nancy’s next step is the Red Star FC 93 friendly on 12 February 2027, a home tie that looms large as the side looks to turn pre-season promise into early-season points. **Sitting fourth in the table, the Nancéiens must now convert intent into results.**

Saturday’s outing showed glimpses of what’s to come. The real test arrives when the competitive stakes rise.