AS Saint-Étienne edged Venezia 4-3 in a thrilling seven-goal friendly at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on 1 August 2026. The International Club Friendly was played at a lively pace from the first minute to the last, producing attacking football, defensive lapses, and a finale that had the feel of a competitive match far more than a routine pre-season warm-up.

Saint-Étienne started on the front foot and were rewarded early. The hosts moved the ball quickly and pulled Venezia’s defence out of position with clever off-the-ball runs. Their opening goal arrived courtesy of a well-worked move that was finished calmly inside the penalty area. Venezia, to their credit, refused to drop their heads and responded almost immediately. A set-piece allowed the Italian side to level the scores, and the match was quickly becoming an open, end-to-end contest.

The second half was an absolute spectacle. Saint-Étienne regained the lead with a crisp strike from the edge of the box, but Venezia again produced a quick response through a counter-attack. The home side then seemed to take control, scoring twice in the space of ten minutes to open up a two-goal cushion for the first time. However, Venezia kept pushing and added a third goal late on in a chaotic final period. The closing stages saw both teams share chances in a breathless finish, but the score remained 4-3 in favour of the Ligue 2 side.

Key moments and tactical story

The game was defined by the willingness of both teams to commit numbers forward. Saint-Étienne looked particularly dangerous when they won the ball high up the pitch, with their midfield runners causing constant problems for Venezia’s backline. Venezia’s threat came from set-pieces and quick transitions, and they showed real quality in creating goals from relatively limited periods of control.

For AS Saint-Étienne, the match was an excellent fitness test and a chance for the attack to rediscover its sharpness. For Venezia, the defeat was less important than the character their players showed to keep scoring and fight until the final whistle. With a combined seven goals, the fixture provided fantastic entertainment and highlighted the attacking talent in both squads.

Ultimately, Saint-Étienne took the win and the bragging rights, but both sets of supporters left with an entertaining afternoon’s football, and the coaching staffs were given plenty to analyse as the new season approaches.