MHSC 2-1 GF38 : We always have the right to believe in it
Having beaten Grenoble without too much trouble (2-1), the Pailladins have won the first of their four finals and remain in the running for the play-offs.
Arroud the match : the start of a four-match run
On Friday evening, MHSC hosted Grenoble Foot 38 at the Stade de La Mosson in what looked like the first step of a four-match sprint to the promotion play-offs, as only a near-flawless run, combined with points dropped along the way by their direct rivals, could allow Montpellier to secure a top-five finish and extend their season by at least one more match.
To achieve this, MHSC coach Zoumana Camara decided to try something new. Sticking with his 4-1-4-1 formation, Christopher Jullien, back from suspension, started in central defence alongside Jullien Laporte, with Théo Chennahi in front of the defence, the Mbuku-Guéguin duo in the holding midfield roles, and the trio of Pays-Mendy and Molébé up front. Having impressed greatly as a substitute in recent weeks, Axel Guéguin was also making his first start for the first team on this occasion.
Before turning our attention to the match itself, we simply must give a shout-out to the Club Central des Supporters, which was celebrating its 50th anniversary during this fixture, just a week after La Butte Paillade 91 marked its 34th anniversary during the away trip to Annecy. Two organisations that have been following and supporting our club wholeheartedly, through thick and thin, for so many years.
One final non-football-related highlight was that the Parc Spirou mascot had been invited to take the ceremonial kick-off and had brought along some tickets to give away, much to the delight of young and old alike. Finally, a big competition had been organised at half-time in partnership with Big M, with the chance to win a car.
The match :
MHSC 2-1 Grenoble
The match began with a fairly lengthy period of feeling each other out, which was only briefly livened up by a curling shot from Diaby that went wide (13th minute). The tension was mounting when, following a cross from Enzo Tchato, Alexandre Mendy’s header was tipped away for a corner by the Grenoble goalkeeper (18th minute). The rest of the match had – so far – been marred by too many mistakes, until a magnificent moment of brilliance: Alexandre Mendy, playing as a centre-back with his back to goal, played a perfect through ball to Enzo Molébé. He found himself in a central position, moved forward and curled a superb shot into the top corner of Diop’s goal (1–0, 25 mins). A masterclass from both the passer and the scorer. As well as opening the scoring, this fine move had the merit of creating spaces into which the trio of Chennahi, Guéguin and Mbuku—who were increasingly involved in building play—were able to surge Enzo Tchato was making the most of the space down his wing, and Hérault’s play became increasingly fluid as the match went on. So much so that, apart from another attempt by Diaby that went wide (37′), Grenoble had nothing else to show for their efforts in attack.
Once the deadlock had been broken, the task now was to build on that lead or, at the very least, to hold on to it. Enzo Tchato had the first chance to score, but his curling shot went wide (55′); the same fate befell Nicolas Pays’s attempt (68′), and it was ultimately the captain, Julien Laporte, left unmarked at the far post following a corner from Nathanaël Mbuku, who delivered the decisive blow (2-0, 71′). This time, the matter was settled. Despite narrowly missing out on a chance from a deflected Bonnet cross (90′), the Pailladins secured a solid and deserved victory in the first of their four remaining finals in the race for the play-offs. They have thus kept their hopes alive of extending their season by at least one more match. Before it comes to that, Zoumana Camara’s men are due to play in Amiens next Friday, as they continue to fight for their goal. With this success, they – and we – still have every right to believe in it. Go Paillade !
MATCH SHEET
Vendredi 17 avril 2026
31ème journée de Ligue 2 BKT.
Stade de La Mosson
Mi-temps : 1-0
Score final : 2-1
Arbitre : M.Taleb
Pour le MHSC : Molébé (25e), Laporte (71e)
Pour Grenoble : Bonnet (90e)
au MHSC : Sainte-Luce (45e)
à Grenoble : Xantippe (78e)
MHSC : Ngapandouetnbu – Tchato, Jullien, Laporte (cap.), Sainte-Luce (Mincarelli, 81e) – Chennahi – Molébé (Issoufou, 63e), Mbuku (Savanier, 73e), Guéguin (Fayad, 63e), Pays – Mendy. Entraîneur : Zoumana Camara
GRENOBLE FOOT 38 : Diop – Paquiez (cap.), Vidal, Mouyokolo (Diba, 79e), Mion (Delos, 63e) – Diaby, Xantippe, Benet, Maurin (Zahui, 72e) – Mouazan (Bernadou, 72e) – Djitté (Bonnet, 63e). Entraîneur : Frédéric Gueguen
Les stats du match
