Red Star FC 93 kicked off their 2026 pre-season preparations in style with a 2–1 victory over Ligue 2 side Stade Lavallois MFC in an entertaining International Club Friendly at the Stade Bauer on Friday evening. The fixture, played under the lights in front of a lively crowd, offered both managers a chance to rotate their squads and experiment with tactics ahead of the upcoming competitive campaigns.

The match saw the hosts take control early with a sharp attacking display, but Laval fought back impressively before eventually succumbing to a second‑half winner from the hosts. Here is a full breakdown of the encounter.

Match Overview

Red Star, who compete in the Championnat National (third tier), showed they could hold their own against a side from a division above. The opening 25 minutes were dominated by the home side, who pressed high and forced several defensive errors from Laval. The breakthrough came in the 18th minute when forward Yanis Alioui latched onto a through ball and slotted calmly past Laval goalkeeper Maxime Hautbois.

Laval gradually found their rhythm, with midfield trio Jimmy Roye, Ryan Ferhaoui and Antonin Bobichon dictating the pace. The equaliser arrived just before the half‑hour mark—a well‑worked set piece saw centre‑back Yannick M’Bone head home from a corner to make it 1–1.

The second half was a more cautious affair, but Red Star’s persistence paid off in the 67th minute. Substitute Mustafa El Kabir, a veteran striker with experience across French football, chested down a long ball and fired a half‑volley into the bottom corner, restoring the hosts’ lead and ultimately securing the win.

Key Moments

• 18’ – Goal! Red Star FC 93 1‑0 Stade Lavallois: Alioui runs onto a clever pass from midfielder Cheikh N’Doye and finishes with composure.
• 29’ – Goal! Stade Lavallois 1‑1 Red Star: M’Bone rises highest at the near post to meet a Roye corner, heading past Red Star keeper Vincent Demarconnay.
• 67’ – Goal! Red Star FC 93 2‑1 Stade Lavallois: El Kabir shows his class with a stunning technical finish after a long ball from the back.
• 85’ – Red card? No—Laval’s Maxime Baca receives a yellow for a late tackle, but the visitors survive a scare.

Tactical Story

Red Star manager Habib Beye deployed a 4‑3‑3 formation aimed at exploiting the wide channels. Left‑back Formose Mendy overlapped frequently, while young winger Hervé Boumou provided width on the opposite flank. The midfield trio of N’Doye, Loïc Nego and Kévin Rocheteau did well to break up play and transition quickly.

Laval, under coach Olivier Frapolli, started in a 4‑2‑3‑1 shape but struggled to contain Red Star’s energy in the first half. After the break they switched to a more compact 4‑4‑2, which stabilised the defence but limited their attacking output. The equaliser came from a set piece—a clear area of focus for Laval in pre‑season—but they could not replicate that success from open play.

Standout Players

• Mustafa El Kabir (Red Star) – The match‑winner came off the bench and made an immediate impact with a goal of sheer quality. His experience was invaluable in seeing out the result.
• Yannick M’Bone (Laval) – The centre‑back was a threat on set pieces and solid defensively, winning several aerial duels and making important clearances.
• Cheikh N’Doye (Red Star) – The veteran midfielder controlled the tempo and provided the assist for the opening goal. His leadership was evident throughout.

Conclusion and What It Means

For Red Star FC 93, this friendly victory provides a confidence boost ahead of their Championnat National campaign, which gets underway in August. The performance suggested they can compete with higher‑tier opposition, something that will be vital if the club aims to push for promotion.

Stade Lavallois, meanwhile, will take positives from their second‑half resilience and the effectiveness of their set‑piece play. However, defensive lapses remain a concern as they prepare for the Ligue 2 season. Both sides are expected to have further friendlies before the competitive fixtures begin.

With the International Club Friendly offering a stage for experimentation, both sets of fans left the Stade Bauer with reasons to be optimistic about the months ahead.