Preview: USSA Vertou U19 vs. La Berrichonne de Chateauroux 2

SAINT-SÉBASTIEN-SUR-LOIRE, France (Interstat) — USSA Vertou U19 hosts La Berrichonne de Chateauroux 2 on Saturday, April 25, in a National 3 football match with playoff implications for both sides.

Vertou enters the 4 p.m. local kickoff seeking to reverse a recent slide. The home side is winless in its last five matches across all competitions, most recently playing to a 0-0 draw at FC Challans on April 18. Prior to that, Vertou fell 2-1 to Stade Brestois 29 U19 and dropped back-to-back matches against Nantes U19 by identical 2-1 scores on April 11 and 12.

Chateauroux 2 arrives smarting from a 2-0 loss at Nantes U19 on April 19. However, the visitors have shown resilience this season, posting a 1-0-2 record over their last three outings, including a 0-0 stalemate against Angers U19 on April 11. Chateauroux’s attack has been inconsistent, but the side has scored in three of its last four fixtures.

When these teams met Jan. 11, Vertou won 4-2 at Chateauroux. The result snapped a three-match unbeaten run for the visitors and marked the highest-scoring affair between the clubs this season.

Vertou’s offense has struggled to find rhythm. The club has managed just two goals in its last six matches, with its most recent victory coming Feb. 21 against AS La Chataigneraie. Defensively, Vertou has conceded 10 goals over that same span.

Chateauroux has fared slightly better on the road, collecting points in two of its last three away fixtures. The club’s defense held Angers scoreless earlier this month and limited high-scoring Vendee Fontenay Foot to two goals in a November win.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, the contest is projected to end in a 2-2 draw.

Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Stade de la Vertonnière.