Paris FC used the quiet of the international break to stage a local test at Orly on Saturday morning, but Red Star left with the sharper edge and a 2-1 friendly victory. It was only a training-ground fixture, yet it brought together two clubs whose paths could cross in Ligue 1 next season.
Key takeaways
- Red Star won 2-1 against Paris FC at the Paris club’s Orly training centre.
- Kemo Cissé put the Ligue 2 side ahead in the seventh minute.
- Young Paris FC player Omar Sissoko levelled the match in the 66th minute.
- Damien Durand restored Red Star’s lead around 20 minutes later.
- Paris FC were without 10 players away on international duty.
Red Star take the derby rehearsal
The match was arranged during a three-week international pause, offering minutes to players who were not called up by their countries. Red Star, second in Ligue 2 and two points behind leaders Saint-Étienne, made the more decisive start through Cissé.
Paris FC found a route back through Sissoko after the hour, with the young player scoring in the 66th minute. The equaliser did not last. Durand, a regular source of goals for Red Star, struck roughly 20 minutes later to settle the contest for the visitors.
There was no league consequence to the result, but the fixture carried the outline of a possible future top-flight meeting. Paris FC have started the Ligue 1 campaign strongly, while Red Star are firmly involved at the top of the second division.
Minutes for returning and fringe players
Paris FC had a heavily reduced group because Matondo, Chergui, Kebbal, Simon, Coppola, Koleosho, Zabi, Camara, Sinayoko and Traoré were all away with national teams.
The morning did bring a positive return for Nhoa Sangui, who had not played since being injured at the start of the season. It also gave Jonathan Ikoné and Jean-Philippe Krasso useful game time. Ikoné has featured only sparingly since August, and Krasso was similarly given an opportunity to build rhythm.
Paris FC entered the break in third place after taking 11 points from their opening five league games, with three wins and two draws. Their concern now is not the friendly defeat itself, but ensuring the interruption does not blunt a fast opening to life in Ligue 1.
That early momentum has come after a more difficult pre-season, when Paris FC suffered several defeats in warm-up matches before the competitive campaign began.
