Match Information
Match Overview
Boulazac host Roanne at Boulazac Arena on September 26, 2026 in a LNB fixture that carries significant weight given the gulf in the standings. Roanne sit top of the table in first place, while Boulazac occupy 13th position, making this a clear test of whether the home side can trouble a team built for the summit of the league.
The table positions frame everything about this contest. A gap of twelve places between first and thirteenth suggests Roanne have found consistency that Boulazac have yet to replicate this season. For Boulazac, under manager Amir Ghalenoei, a home fixture against the league leaders is an opportunity to measure themselves against the competition's benchmark side and potentially disrupt Roanne's rhythm at the top of the table. For Roanne and manager Eric Chelle, protecting that first-place standing on the road against a mid-table opponent is the more straightforward assignment on paper, though league leaders are rarely short of motivation to maintain their grip on top spot.
Squad availability adds an interesting wrinkle to the pre-match picture. Both Boulazac and Roanne come into this match with no reported injuries, meaning both managers should have their full squads to choose from. That clean bill of health is notable given how often squad depth becomes a deciding factor in matches between teams at opposite ends of the table — here, neither side can point to absentees as a mitigating factor.
The history between these clubs, stretching back to 2016, shows a fixture that has produced high-scoring, competitive encounters over the years, suggesting neither side is likely to be overwhelmed regardless of current league position. With both squads at full strength, this match should offer a genuine test of Boulazac's home form against Roanne's league-leading credentials.
Predicted Lineups
Boulazac
A. Beiranvand; R. Rezaeian, H. Kanaani, S. Khalilzadeh, M. Mohammadi; S. Ghoddos, M. Ghorbani, S. Ezatolahi, M. Mohebi; M. Taremi
Roanne
M. Okoye; C. Akpan, S. Ajayi, C. Bassey, B. Onyemaechi; T. Nnadi, W. Ndidi, A. Iwobi, F. Dele-Bashiru; M. Simon, A. Adams
Team Form Analysis
Boulazac
League Position: 13Boulazac Form Analysis
Boulazac currently sit 13th in the LNB table, a position that points to a mid-table campaign lacking the consistency needed to push higher up the standings. With no recent form data available to draw upon, the clearest indicator of where this squad stands is their league position itself, which places them well below the competition's leading pack. The squad named in their last available lineup featured a 5-4-1 setup built around Mehdi Taremi as the focal point in attack, supported by a four-man midfield including Saman Ghoddos and Saeid Ezatolahi. With no injuries reported, manager Amir Ghalenoei has full access to his squad depth, including alternative attacking options such as A. Alipour and A. Hosseinzadeh available from the bench. Facing the league's top side will provide a clear benchmark for where Boulazac's current level truly stands relative to the division's best. A positive result or performance here would be a meaningful marker of progress for a team currently sitting in the bottom half of the table.
Roanne
League Position: 1Roanne Form Analysis
Roanne arrive at this fixture as the league leaders, sitting top of the LNB standings, a position that reflects a campaign of sustained quality and consistency to this point in the season. No recent match-by-match form data is available, but their table position alone speaks to a team that has out-performed the rest of the division. Their last named lineup showed a 4-3-1-2 formation featuring a strong spine through William Ndidi and Alex Iwobi in midfield, with Anthony Adams and M. Simon leading the attacking line. With no injuries reported, manager Eric Chelle has his full squad at his disposal, including squad depth options like Samuel Chukwueze and Roland Durosinmi among the attacking reserves. Traveling to face a side in 13th place represents the kind of fixture league leaders are typically expected to control, and how Roanne approach and manage the match away from home will offer insight into the squad's mentality as they continue to defend top spot.
Head-to-Head
Boulazac
Roanne
Recent Meetings
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-04-25 | Boulazac | 91 - 78 | Roanne |
| 2024-10-19 | Roanne | 89 - 88 | Boulazac |
| 2021-05-12 | Roanne | 91 - 94 | Boulazac |
| 2021-03-06 | Boulazac | 82 - 72 | Roanne |
| 2020-02-11 | Boulazac | 96 - 77 | Roanne |
| 2019-12-06 | Roanne | 83 - 68 | Boulazac |
| 2019-11-05 | Roanne | 82 - 83 | Boulazac |
| 2017-02-25 | Boulazac | 68 - 66 | Roanne |
| 2016-12-10 | Roanne | 99 - 102 | Boulazac |
| 2016-05-07 | Boulazac | 97 - 81 | Roanne |
Memorable Matches
The history between Boulazac and Roanne stretches back to at least 2016 and has consistently produced high-scoring, tightly contested basketball. The most recent meeting on April 25, 2025 saw Boulazac triumph 91-78. Just months earlier, on October 19, 2024, Roanne edged a narrow 89-88 win. Perhaps the standout classic came on May 12, 2021, when Roanne fell 91-94 to Boulazac in a match decided by the finest of margins. Another tight affair came on December 10, 2016, when Boulazac won 102-99 on the road. Across the recorded meetings, scores have regularly climbed into the 80s and 90s, underlining a fixture history defined by offensive quality and rarely a comfortable margin for either side.
Venue Factor
This match takes place at Boulazac Arena, home ground for Boulazac, on September 26, 2026. Home advantage carries particular relevance given Boulazac's need to make the most of familiar surroundings while sitting in 13th place in the league table. For Roanne, arriving as league leaders, the trip represents the challenge every top-of-the-table side faces: replicating the consistency shown domestically in a less familiar away environment. Looking at the head-to-head record at this fixture, Boulazac have secured wins in matches played on their own court historically, including a 91-78 victory on April 25, 2025, and a 96-77 win on February 11, 2020, suggesting the venue has previously played host to strong home performances against this particular opponent. The atmosphere at Boulazac Arena will be
