GUINGAMP, France (Interstat) — Amadou Samoura’s 68th-minute goal was the difference as Guingamp opened its Ligue 2 season with a 1-0 victory over Troyes on Saturday at Stade du Roudourou.

The match, played on Jan. 24, 2026, was a tightly contested affair that ultimately turned on a moment of quality from a substitute. Guingamp’s winner was crafted by a trio of players brought off the bench, highlighting the depth that proved decisive. Adrien Monfray, introduced in the 61st minute, provided the assist just seven minutes later, finding Samoura for the game’s only score. Ismaëlben Boura, who also entered as a substitute, was credited with a secondary assist on the play.

The result gave Guingamp an ideal start to the French second-division campaign, moving its record to 1-0-0. Troyes, meanwhile, began its season with a defeat, falling to 0-1-0.

The match was a physical encounter from the outset, with the first half characterized more by industry than incision. Troyes’ Boura received the game’s first yellow card in the 18th minute for a foul. Guingamp struggled to break down a disciplined Troyes defense, and the visitors nearly grew into the contest as the half progressed.

The second half saw the intensity and the foul count rise. Troyes’ Anis Ouzenadji was shown a yellow card in the 52nd minute. Guingamp manager Stéphane Dumont turned to his bench shortly after the hour mark, a move that changed the game. The introductions of Monfray and Boura added immediate impetus to the Guingamp attack.

The breakthrough came in the 68th minute. After sustained pressure, Monfray found space on the left and delivered a cross that Samoura met with a decisive finish, sending the home supporters into celebration.

The goal ignited a fractious final period. Guingamp’s Hugo Gambor was booked in the 72nd minute, and Monfray himself saw a yellow card in the 84th for a challenge after the play had stopped. Troyes, pushing for an equalizer, saw Louis Mafouta cautioned in the 89th minute.

The match ended in chaotic fashion deep into stoppage time. In the seventh minute of added time, a confrontation between players led to a flurry of disciplinary action. Guingamp forward Freddy Mbemba and Troyes substitute Merwan Ifnaoui were both shown yellow cards, but Mbemba’s was his second of the match, resulting in a red card and his dismissal just before the final whistle.

The victory defied the pre-match projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had predicted a 1-1 draw. However, it aligned with the same service’s ELO rating system, which gave Guingamp a 72.2 percent probability of winning the contest.

Guingamp’s defense held firm to secure the clean sheet and all three points, providing a solid foundation for its season. Troyes will rue its inability to convert possession into clear chances, leaving Stade du Roudourou empty-handed.