AS Saint-Étienne’s pre-season kicks off with a Glasgow Rangers clash at Ibrox on July 22, part of a Swiss-heavy schedule designed to test Ian Cathro’s first full summer in charge. The Verts, still recovering from a missed Ligue 1 playoff spot, will use these friendlies to refine their squad ahead of a transfer window that could reshape the team.

Why this schedule matters for AS Saint-Étienne

After a disappointing 2025-26 season—marked by a playoff failure—the club’s pre-season roadmap serves dual purposes: scout new signings and identify weaknesses before a high-stakes transfer window. With €50 million already spent since Kilmer Sport’s takeover, the focus now shifts to retaining key players while addressing critical gaps, particularly in goalkeeping and left-wing attack.

Training begins June 24 at Divonne-les-Bains, with the first test against FC Biel-Bienne on July 11 at Andrézieux-Bouthéon. The Swiss leg continues with Servette Genève on July 18 (closed doors) and FC Lausanne-Sport on July 29 (TBC). But the standout fixture is the July 22 showdown at Ibrox Stadium, where ASSE will face Glasgow Rangers at 8:45 PM—a high-profile match likely to attract transfer scouts.

Key players to watch during these friendlies

Early summer moves included Sohaib Naïr (€1M, central defender from Guingamp) and Jakob Breum (midfielder from Go Ahead Eagles), but it’s the potential exits that dominate headlines. Lucas Stassin and Zuriko Davitashvili, two fan favorites, are rumored to leave, along with Augustine Boakye and Irvin Cardona, whose market value has drawn interest.

Ian Cathro, the new manager from Guingamp, will use these games to assess his squad. The club needs a backup for Gautier Larsonneur in goal, a defensive midfielder to replace Abdoulaye Kanté (whose Middlesbrough loan ends), and left-wing and striker reinforcements to bolster attack.

When does Ligue 2 resume?

After five pre-season matches, ASSE will return to action August 8 against Sochaux, marking the official start of the 2026-27 Ligue 2 season. The full friendly schedule: - July 11, 6 PM : ASSE vs. FC Biel-Bienne (Envol Stadium) - July 18, 6 PM : Servette Genève vs. ASSE (Geneva, closed doors) - July 22, 8:45 PM : Glasgow Rangers vs. ASSE (Ibrox Stadium) - July 29 : ASSE vs. FC Lausanne-Sport (TBC) - August 1, 6 PM : ASSE vs. Venezia (Thonon-les-Bains)

With just one week between the last friendly and the season opener, the stakes are high. The summer’s success hinges on balancing squad turnover and avoiding last year’s playoff mistakes—all while keeping Ligue 1 ambitions alive.