Bastia Monument Faces Serious Threat After Disastrous Season Start

Recent months have been challenging for Corsican football. Initially relegated to National 1 due to financial issues, AC Ajaccio has now been excluded from all national competitions. As a result, one of Corsica’s prominent clubs has had to start over from the 7th division, specifically Regional 2. This is a significant setback for the Ours, who are now focused on rebuilding. Their regional rival, SC Bastia (currently in Ligue 2), remains the only professional club in Corsica after making their return to Ligue 2 in 2023, finishing thirteenth in 2024 and eighth last season. However, the 2025/2026 season could spell trouble for those at Stade Armand Cesari.

This summer, Bastia also faced sanctions from the DNCG and has been placed under strict financial supervision regarding their payroll and transfer activities. To alleviate their financial strain, Bastia sold promising players like Christ Inao Oulaï for €5.5 million and Lamine Cissé for €2.5 million. They have recruited players on free transfers or loans, including Issiaka Karamoko, Nicolas Parravicini, Sacha Contena, Jérémy Sebas, Ayman Aiki, Alexandre Zaouai, and Lisandru Olmeta. With a mix of young talent and experienced players, coach Benoît Tavenot’s squad entered the 2025/2026 Ligue 2 season with cautious optimism.

Bastia Struggling but United

Results have not been favorable, as Bastia has recorded no wins, with 6 losses and 4 draws in 10 matches. They have suffered defeats against newly promoted teams like Le Mans and Boulogne, accumulating just 4 points, which puts them 6 points behind the relegation play-off position. Upcoming matches are crucial, with Bastia set to host Laval this Friday and then visit Nancy and welcome Clermont in quick succession. This stretch could either help Bastia regain momentum or deepen their struggles. Compounding the situation, their star player Amine Boutrah, the club’s top scorer and assist provider with 2 goals and 2 assists, has sustained an eye socket fracture and may be sidelined for up to eight weeks.

Despite their poor start and the looming threat of relegation to National 1, the club maintains a united front. Coach Benoît Tavenot remains optimistic, focusing on addressing the team’s lack of scoring. Bastia has the weakest attack in the league, having scored only 4 goals, but they have shown defensive strength by conceding just 12 goals, equaling the fifth-best defense. Tavenot noted a mental fragility within the team after the recent loss: “We had a very strong first half, where we should have been ahead, but we weren’t, as has been the case in many matches for the past 18 months. We conceded at a bad moment and lacked character. I didn’t feel there was a way back, even though there was. When you don’t wholly believe, it makes things difficult on the pitch. In the second half, our technical precision and initiative were lacking. At halftime, I sensed players were completely demoralized, even though there were still 45 minutes to play.”

Bastia in Survival Mode

“A player will arrive this week. It’s crucial to bring in some new energy because it’s mentally tough for everyone. What we’ve been missing is what Christ Inao Oulaï provided last year: the ability to break through defenses and create opportunities that we lack now. We’re focusing on the next four matches, which are extremely important. For that, we need to fully believe and get back to work,” stated the coach in a rallying press conference. Plagued by injuries, including Boutrah’s and central defender Gustave Akueson’s torn ligaments, Bastia is working with a depleted squad and facing financial constraints. Sporting director Frédéric Antonetti addressed these challenges on France Bleu, explaining that the postponed match against Boulogne has forced them to play 5 matches in 15 days, mostly away, with a diminished squad. Antonetti believes that if the team regains its strength, results will follow.

The former coach of Rennes, Lille, and FC Metz emphasized Bastia’s financial limitations, which compel the club to sell players and maximize their resources: “Our sporting policy is often discussed, but we must remember our origins and the current financial situation in French football. It’s a constant struggle to maintain a professional club in Corsica. We recruit promising young players and work to develop them, like Benoît did with Cissé last season, while doing everything possible to stay economically viable. It’s essential to sell players to balance the books, but it’s not something we do lightly, especially with players who have been here for only a year. We were forced to sell to ensure survival.” As the French football sector suffers from a TV rights crisis, Bastia fights to survive at the highest level, unlike rival Ajaccio. The season ahead looks long and arduous for the Bastia players.