Lorient defeated Valenciennes 2-0 in Ligue 1. The fixture is part of the Regular Season - 9 stage in the 2011 season. The full-time result capped a Lorient vs Valenciennes meeting in Ligue 1 with detailed post-match statistics available on Sportra. This match centre covers lineups, live events, player ratings, team statistics, xG, head-to-head history, and related news for Lorient and Valenciennes. On Sportra you can view xG, lineups, match statistics, events, player ratings, predictions, head-to-head history, and related news for this fixture.
Ligue 1Recorded meetings: 1 (available previous meetings, not necessarily all-time).
Valenciennes
Benjamin Mendy has sold the replica 2018 World Cup trophy FIFA awarded him at auction. In 2018, Benjamin Mendy lifted the World Cup at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium as part of the France squad that beat Croatia 4-2 in the final. Seven years later, that gold-plated memory has a price tag: the left-back has sold the official replica trophy FIFA gave him as a champion for roughly $62,200 at auction. The sale went through American collectibles house Goldin as part of its “Global Football Auction Part 2,” a sale that also featured memorabilia tied to names like Lamine Yamal, Pelé, and Lionel Messi, and closed on July 25. The piece up for grabs wasn’t the actual World Cup trophy, which stays in FIFA’s possession, but the identical replica FIFA and the French federation hand every world champion as a personal keepsake, standing roughly 38 centimeters tall. It was listed with a crack at its base and visible wear, and the winning bidder received a certificate signed by Mendy to authenticate it. Mendy had a brief participation at the 2018 World Cup Mendy, now 32, played a bit-part role in that Russia 2018 run under Didier Deschamps, coming on for 40 minutes in a 0-0 group-stage draw with Denmark while Lucas Hernandez started every other match at left-back. Benjamin Mendy of France celebrates with the World Cup Trophy. (Getty Images) France‘s path to the title included wins over Argentina in the round of 16, Uruguay in the quarterfinals, and Belgium in the semifinals before the final against Croatia. Mendy’s career: a fall from the top Mendy’s path to that World Cup medal ran through Le Havre, where he broke into the first team in 2011 after coming up through the reserves, before a move to Olympique de Marseille in 2013 for three seasons. He then joined Monaco, where he won the 2016-17 Ligue 1 title as part of the young squad that also produced Kylian Mbappé, and that breakout campaign earned him a move to Manchester City in 2017 for a then-world-record fee for a defender. His six years at City were repeatedly derailed by injuries and, later, a major legal setback that kept him out of football entirely for two years before he was cleared in 2023. City released him following that ordeal, and his career never recovered its old level: a brief, appearance-less spell at Lorient came next, followed by a short stint at Swiss side FC Zürich, before he signed with Poland’s Pogoń Szczecin in September 2025, where he currently plays.
Manchester City is reportedly targeting the signing of Argentina goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, who could return to the club to finally make his debut. Geronimo Rulli has emerged as a surprise target in the 2026 summer transfer window, with Manchester City reportedly eyeing the Argentina goalkeeper on a permanent transfer. Nine years after his initial exit, the shot-stopper could finally return to the Citizens to make his long-awaited club debut. According to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City is targeting Rulli from Ligue 1 side Olympique de Marseille. The plan calls for the veteran Argentine to serve as the primary backup under manager Enzo Maresca while Italian international Gianluigi Donnarumma holds down the starting job. City’s interest in Rulli comes as secondary goalkeeper James Trafford nears a permanent transfer to Leeds United. As reported by The Athletic, the prospective deal carries a £40 million ($53 million USD) fee plus add-ons, a figure that would make Trafford the fifth-most expensive goalkeeper in history behind Kepa Arrizabalaga ($91M), Alisson Becker ($71M), Gianluigi Buffon ($60M), and André Onana ($60M). Rulli, who currently serves as the primary backup for the Argentina national team, remains under contract with Marseille through June 2027. According to Argentine transfer expert Uriel Iugt, Manchester City has already agreed to personal terms on a two-year contract with the keeper, leaving Trafford’s formal departure and club-to-club negotiations as the final hurdles. Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool battles for possession with Geronimo Rulli of Marseille. Rulli positioned for long-awaited City debut Rulli built his European career through consistent stints in Spain, France, and the Netherlands. However, his history with Manchester City remains a notable curiosity: despite formally belonging to the club nearly a decade ago, he never played a single minute for the Sky Blues. A product of Argentina’s Estudiantes de La Plata academy, Rulli completed a €3.5 million move to Uruguayan side Deportivo Maldonado in 2014, a club frequently utilized as a transactional bridge for player rights. That same window, he joined Real Sociedad on a two-year loan before Manchester City purchased his rights for €4.7 million in 2016, immediately loaning him back to the Spanish club. During the January 2017 transfer window, Real Sociedad triggered a €7 million buy option to sign Rulli permanently, ending his first stint at Manchester City before he ever put on the shirt. The Argentine keeper came close to returning to the Etihad Stadium later that year, but a personal decision kept him in Spain. Ahead of the 2017-18 campaign, Mundo Deportivo reported that Manchester City considered activating a €14 million buyback clause. Manager Pep Guardiola envisioned Rulli sharing goalkeeping duties with Claudio Bravo, but Rulli opted to remain at Real Sociedad to secure guaranteed playing time ahead of the 2018 World Cup, a tournament he ultimately missed following an untimely injury.
Ben: Eddie Howe gave Newcastle its spark back - hauling the club out of the relegation scrap, delivering that unforgettable Champions League return, rebuilding players who looked finished, and serving up some of the most fearless football St James' Park has seen in years. For years Eddie Howe has been the cool headed master tactician and inspiration of the club's success. Eddie Howe performed nothing short of miracles turning the team around and going on to win the cup.
In a recent report, Bild stated that Sunderland are showing interest in Bayer 04 Leverkusen wide player Ernest Poku. It has been mentioned that the Black Cats would have to pay €25m to get a deal do...
Toulouse defender expected to cost about £26mNewcastle still looking for defensive reinforcementsSunderland are poised to sign the long-time Newcastle target Dayann Methalie from Toulouse. The France Under-21s defender, who can play left-back or wingback and also operate in the centre, has attracted widespread interest this summer but Régis Le Bris now appears close to acquiring him for about £26m.Newcastle had extensively scouted Methalie, who made 27 Ligue 1 appearances for Toulouse last season, and reportedly tried to sign him in January. The club have now indicated they opted against the idea of recruiting the 20-year-old and have not submitted a bid this summer. Nonetheless, Methalie appeared an ideal fit for Newcastle’s new transfer policy of recruiting young players in the £20m-£40m price bracket. Continue reading...
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