Sports Mole previews Friday’s CONCACAF Nations League matchup between Guadeloupe and Martinique, offering predictions, team news, and potential lineups.
On Friday, Guadeloupe aims for back-to-back victories in the CONCACAF Nations League as they host Martinique on matchday three at Stade Roger Zami in Le Gosier.
Last month, Guadeloupe climbed into a tie for third place in Group B with Suriname, securing a 1-0 win against them on matchday two. Meanwhile, La Matinino sits at the bottom of the group, three points behind, after a 2-2 draw with Guyana.
After a tough start in the Nations League, losing 3-0 to Costa Rica, Guadeloupe rebounded with a significant victory over Suriname, marking their first-ever League A win. This victory puts them just a point behind Guatemala and Costa Rica in the group standings.
Under Jocelyn Angloma’s guidance, the team has shown strong form, winning four of their last five matches and keeping clean sheets in each of those wins. However, they have faced challenges in their last three domestic outings, with a mix of results that included a 2-0 win over Sint Maarten.
Historically, the Gwada Boys have been resilient away from home, never losing back-to-back Nations League games in the same season. They’ve maintained a solid defensive record, not conceding a goal in the first half all year, and have remained unbeaten when leading after the 45-minute mark since their loss to Guatemala in July 2023.
Martinique faced a challenging start on matchday two, quickly falling two goals behind within the first 24 minutes. However, they demonstrated resilience by rallying to secure a draw, marking the first time since September 2019 that they had come from behind to earn a point in a Nations League match.
Under Marc Collat, the team has only one defeat in their last five Nations League games but is still looking for their first away win in the tournament. They currently find themselves on a four-match winless streak across all competitions, with their last away victory dating back to their 2-1 win against El Salvador in the 2023 Gold Cup.
Defensively, they have struggled recently, conceding five goals in their last two competitive matches—one more than in their previous five games combined. However, they have a positive history against Guadeloupe, remaining unbeaten in their last three away matches against them, including a 4-3 victory in a friendly over two years ago.
Current Form:
– Guadeloupe CONCACAF Nations League: Strong, with recent victories boosting their confidence.
– Guadeloupe Overall: Mixed results, but solid defensive performances.
– Martinique CONCACAF Nations League: Seeking consistency after a recent draw.
– Martinique Overall:Winless in four matches, struggling away from home.
In the upcoming clash, Guadeloupe and Martinique are both looking to build on their recent performances. Guadeloupe features three new starters: Junior Senneville, Alexandre Arenate, and Kilian Bevis, replacing Jerome Roussillon, Jordan Leborgne, and Marcus Coco. Leborgne recently scored his first international goal, while goalkeeper Teddy Bartouche earned a clean sheet with six saves.
Martinique, missing Florent Poulolo due to suspension, will rely on Johnny Marajo, who recently joined the starting lineup in place of Patrick Burner. Brighton Labeau is in good form, tying for seventh in the national team’s all-time goalscorers alongside Mickael Biron and Jordy Delem.
Both teams have a history of closely contested matches filled with goals, and this encounter promises to be an exciting and open contest, especially following their positive results in matchday two.
Possible Starting Lineups
Guadeloupe:
– Bartouche; Cavare, Gravillon, Saintini, Roussillon; Cadiou, Solvet, Baron; Mirval, Ambrose, Phaeton
Martinique:
– Clementia; Dussaut, Moltenis, Bellance, Moutachy; Mandouki, Appin, Renel; Fabien, Labeau, Biron
With both teams in high spirits, fans can expect a thrilling match.
