PREVIEW: ES Thaon Hosts FC Mulhouse in National 3 Clash

THAON-LES-VOSGES, France (Interstat) — A regional rivalry with implications for the lower half of the table will be renewed Saturday when ES Thaon hosts FC Mulhouse in a French National 3 football match.

Kickoff is set for April 18, 2026, at Stade Robert Sayer. The matchup is the second meeting of the season between the Alsace-Lorraine foes.

The visitors from Mulhouse won the reverse fixture decisively, 4-2, on Dec. 13. That result is part of a difficult recent stretch for Thaon, which has lost three consecutive matches and sits near the relegation zone. Thaon is coming off a 2-1 road loss to US Torcy on April 11.

Mulhouse, positioned mid-table, seeks to rebound from a disappointing 3-1 home defeat to FC Chalonnais last Saturday. Its form has been inconsistent in 2026, with a record of two wins, two draws and five losses in its last nine league matches since the calendar turned.

A statistical projection from Interstat forecasts a potential reversal of the December result, simulating a 2-1 victory for the home side.

Thaon will look to its home pitch for an advantage, where it earned a notable 4-0 win over Besancon in January. However, defensive stability has been an issue, conceding multiple goals in five of its last six outings.

Mulhouse’s attack, which fired four goals past Thaon earlier this season, has been stifled lately, failing to score in three of its last five matches. Its road form is a particular concern, with just one win in its last five away trips.

The match presents a critical opportunity for Thaon to gain ground and avenge its earlier loss, while Mulhouse aims to stabilize its season and complete a league double over its rival. History favors the visitor, but current momentum is scarce for both sides entering the weekend fixture.