Guingamp – Dunkirk: match summary

If Luvambo’s goal, in the 76th minute, had not been refused for a microscopic offside, the Guingampais could have held their first victory in 2025. But, despite several opportunities, against the run of play, the Guingampais hung on a draw against Dunkirk to end the first leg of the season.

The match was quickly taken over by the Dunkirks who carried the ball a lot. But, after struggling not to concede a goal before half-time, Guingamp managed to rebalance the game after the break. Lemonnier’s save in the 50th minute was not enough. Dunkerque opened the scoring six minutes later, from the same Bardeli who had deceived Basilio a few minutes earlier. But it only took three minutes for the former Dunkirk player, Rayan Ghrieb, to put his team back on level terms, thanks to a cross shot from the left.

After the hour of play, Guingamp created two big chances, with a narrow shot from Hemia, well saved by the USLD goalkeeper (70′) then by Luvambo, who scored, but who was offside, so (76′).

The last ten minutes were tense, with two teams pushing, but failing to score and ending in a draw (1-1). The defeat of Paris FC on Friday evening allowed Dunkerque to move up to 2nd place, a small point behind Lorient, who will play Laval this Saturday evening. Guingamp remained clinging to its 6th place.

2 The Riou/Lemonnier defense still at work

As often since the start of the season, it was defensively that Guingamp stood out the most this Saturday at the Roudourou stadium. The central defender duo, Mathis Riou and Pierre Lemonnier, was once again solid. Stirred up in the first half, they were subjected to six Dunkirk shots, but were still in control, putting the Ligue 2 runners-up in doubt. Then, in the second half, Pierre Lemonnier made a huge save on the goal line.

Found in the middle, the Dunkirk Skyttä transmitted to Tejan who himself passed to Bardeli in front of goal. While he was thinking of opening the score with a flat foot, the latter saw Lemonnier clear the danger on the line. Enzo Basilio was beaten, but Lemonnier was there. As a boss.

3 Always a victory against the Top 3

Guingamp wanted to take advantage of this first match of 2025 to come and tickle a team in the Top 3 of Ligue 2. And, over the entirety of this first leg, the Rouge et Noir will not have managed to beat a team from the podium.

“We fell at Paris FC (2-0, September 24), we fell at Metz (1-0, October 25), we fell at Lorient (3-1, November 9). Against Annecy, we drew at home (2-2, September 20). That means that in these matches we were missing something,” recalled the coach, Sylvain Ripoll, before the match against Dunkirk. Today, again, it’s just one small point that they bring back against a big player in the division.

The technical sheet

Referee: Mr. Abed.

Spectators: 9,018.

GOALS. Guingamp: Ghrieb (59′); Dunkirk: Bardeli (56′).

Warnings. Guingamp: Louiserre (90′ + 5); Dunkirk: Raghouber (36′), Courtet (47′), Bammou (90′ + 4).

GUINGAMP: Basilio – Sissoko, Riou, Lemonnier, Maronnier – Ghrieb (Guendouz, 82′), Louiserre (c.), Sidibé (Phiri, 82′), Picard (Luvambo, 73′) – Hemia, Siwe (Labeau, 73′). Coach: S. Ripoll. Not entered into play: Niasse (l.), Nair, Ourega.

DUNKIRK: Ortola – Georgen, Sangante (c.), Sasso, Abner – Skyttä (Rivera, 81′), Raghouber, Bardeli – Bammou, Courtet (Sekongo, 81′), Tejan (Essimi, 73′). Coach: L. Castro. Not entered into play: Jaouen (l.), Youssouf, Kondo, Queiros.