SOCHAUX, France (Interstat) — FC Sochaux-Montbeliard hosts Valenciennes on Saturday in a National 1 clash that pits two sides fighting for momentum in the French third division. Kickoff is at the Stade Auguste Bonal.

The game marks the second meeting between the teams this season. Sochaux-Montbeliard won the first encounter 3-0 at Valenciennes on Dec. 12, 2025, a result that snapped a run of tight contests between the clubs.

Sochaux-Montbeliard enters on the heels of a 2-0 loss at Thonon Evian Grand Geneve on April 25. That defeat ended a two-match unbeaten streak that included a 2-1 win over B-e-B Peronnas and a 3-1 victory against RC Strasbourg Alsace 2. Manager Mathieu Couturier’s side has been inconsistent, with four wins, three losses and three draws in its last 10 outings. The club’s home form has been a mixed bag: a 2-0 win over Rouen on March 27, a 2-2 draw with CA Pontarlier on March 21, and a 4-1 victory at Aubagne on March 20.

Valenciennes comes in off a 1-0 home loss to Dijon on April 24, its third defeat in four matches. The team managed by Olivier Guégan has struggled to find the net, scoring just once in its last three games. Over its past 10 league fixtures, Valenciennes has gone 3-5-2, with wins against Rouen (2-1 on Feb. 6), Caen (2-1 on Feb. 28) and Concarneau (2-1 on March 20). The club’s away form this season has been erratic, with losses at Fleury 91 (2-0) and Rouen (3-2) and a scoreless draw at Aubagne.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 1-1 draw, reflecting the closely matched nature of the two sides. Sochaux-Montbeliard sits mid-table while Valenciennes is just below, both seeking consistency to climb the standings.

After Saturday, Sochaux-Montbeliard travels to face La Berrichonne de Châteauroux on May 9. Valenciennes heads to B-e-B Peronnas the same day.

The fixture is the first of a busy May schedule for both clubs, each hoping to build a late-season push.