CA Bizertin 3-1 ES Hamam-Sousse: Home Side Pull Away in Tunisian Professional League 1

CA Bizertin claimed a convincing 3-1 victory over ES Hamam-Sousse in the Tunisian Professional League 1 on Friday, 23 October 2026, producing a patient and increasingly dominant home performance at Stade 15 Octobre. After an evenly balanced opening phase, Bizertin found another gear after the break and turned a narrow lead into a deserved three-point haul.

The result gives CA Bizertin an important boost in the league standings and reinforces their strength on home soil. For ES Hamam-Sousse, the evening brought a familiar frustration: a competitive spell in the first half was undone by defensive lapses and an inability to contain Bizertin’s midfield control during the closing half-hour.

Match overview

CA Bizertin began with intent, pressing high and forcing ES Hamam-Sousse into several early clearances. The home side’s width was evident from the start, with the full-backs pushing forward and the attacking midfielders drifting into pockets between Hamam-Sousse’s midfield and defence. That pressure produced the opening goal in the 18th minute, when a quick transition ended with a low cross from the right and a close-range finish at the back post.

ES Hamam-Sousse responded well rather than collapsing. The visitors tightened their midfield shape, began to win second balls and created a handful of half-chances on the counter. Their persistence paid off in the 41st minute when a set-piece sequence caused confusion in the Bizertin penalty area, and the equaliser arrived after the home defence failed to clear decisively.

That goal changed the mood at half-time, but it did not change the pattern of the match. Bizertin resumed with greater urgency after the interval, moved the ball faster through midfield and pinned Hamam-Sousse deeper. The home side regained the lead in the 63rd minute with a well-worked move that ended in a composed finish from the edge of the box, and the third goal arrived in the 78th minute on a breakaway that effectively settled the contest.

Key moments

• 18th minute – CA Bizertin 1-0: A fast transition and low right-sided cross created a simple finish at the far post, rewarding Bizertin’s aggressive start.
• 41st minute – CA Bizertin 1-1: ES Hamam-Sousse equalised from a set-piece scramble, capitalising on a failure to clear the second ball.
• 63rd minute – CA Bizertin 2-1: The home side restored its advantage after sustained possession, with a midfield runner arriving late to finish from just outside the area.
• 78th minute – CA Bizertin 3-1: A counter-attack down the left exposed Hamam-Sousse’s stretched back line, and the third goal sealed the points.
• 88th minute – Late save: Bizertin’s goalkeeper preserved the two-goal margin with a sharp stop, denying Hamam-Sousse a late consolation and any hope of a comeback.

Tactical story

CA Bizertin’s 4-2-3-1 shape gave them control in central areas, but the decisive factor was their ability to turn possession into quick attacks. The two holding midfielders screened the back four effectively, allowing the full-backs to advance and the wide forwards to isolate Hamam-Sousse’s defenders. As the match wore on, Bizertin’s superior circulation forced the visitors to defend deeper and deeper.

ES Hamam-Sousse initially looked comfortable in a compact 4-4-2 block. They denied space between the lines and looked dangerous when breaking quickly, especially in the first half. However, the equaliser did not lead to sustained momentum. Hamam-Sousse struggled to keep possession under pressure after the break, and their midfield line was gradually pulled apart by Bizertin’s rotations. Once the home side scored the second goal, the visitors had to open up, which created the space for the third.

Standout performers

Bizertin’s midfield axis was the foundation of the win. The deeper midfielder dictated tempo and repeatedly recycled possession, while the more advanced central player found gaps behind Hamam-Sousse’s first line of pressure. The home centre-forward also produced a strong all-round display, holding the ball up, pressing defenders and creating space for runners.

For ES Hamam-Sousse, the goalkeeper deserves credit for keeping the score respectable with several saves, including an important stop late in the second half. The central defenders battled hard in the air, but too often found themselves exposed by quick switches of play and runners arriving from midfield.

What the result means

The three points strengthen CA Bizertin’s position in the Tunisian Professional League 1 and give the squad valuable momentum for the next round of fixtures. A 3-1 home win, built on a str