On Saturday 26 November (2.30 pm), the midfielder who arrived in Rodez in 2020 finds her old formation, Montpellier, for the first time since she wore the colors blood and gold.
It is a special confrontation that awaits Solène Champagnac: he returns to a field he knows well. Because on Saturday 26 November the 23-year-old midfielder’s blood and gold travel to Montpellier for the Occitan derby. “It’s a bit special because I’m back in my land. I’ll play in front of my family and loved ones”smiles the native of Montpellier.
Champagnac made her debut at Pérols then moved on to Lattes, before joining the MHSC dressing room in 2012. And not counting the friendly between Rodez and Montpellier played in Millau at the end of the summer, it is the first time that the player returns to her old training. But the Hérault team has changed a lot since Solène Champagnac moved to Aveyron: only five players have already worn the blue and orange shirt during her last season there (2019-2020), which was shortened by Covid-19.
It was at the beginning of the 2020-2021 season that the midfielder arrived at Snape. “Like Fiona (bow)Eloisa (Want) and Zoe (Stevenart), they also arrived from Montpellier, Solène has evolved wellunderlines Mathieu Rufié, the coach of the Rafettes. She came to Rodez to play and it is precisely in our desire to launch young players.”
This first exercise for neo-Ruthénoise was ultimately not completed, again due to the pandemic. But Champagnac could not have been part of it as he suffered a cruciate ligament tear in his right knee in February 2021.
A new role that suits him
The championship finally resumed its cruising speed in September 2021 with the outcome we know: the D2 title and a return to the elite. Since taking over, Solène Champagnac has featured in every match and started three of them, including the last two matchdays. “We made some changes compared to the match against Dijon, and you are in your position, in front of the defence”, says the technician. Indeed, Rodez has adopted a 4-4-2 diamond pattern in which Champagnac is positioned as a defensive midfielder who is successful for him and for the team. “Made efforts to save playing time”adds the coach.
With blood and gold, the Montpellier player found the D1 she had known during three meetings of the 2018-2019 MHSC season. Champagnac had also scored a goal… against Rodez (10th day, 5-0), who was playing his ninth consecutive season in P1 and the last until this year. Perhaps the return of the derby will be an opportunity for her to return her favor to her old formation?
An Occitan derby confirming the dynamism
Rodez breathes. “We are on a good dynamic, he has restored confidence in the group”, Solène Champagnac rejoices. After two draws in a row (against Dijon 1-1 and Reims 0-0), the Ruthenian midfielder and his (11th) will play the Occitan derby in Montpellier (4th) on Saturday 26 November (2.30pm). A big shot because the Héraultaises are regulars in the top 5. But unlike the shocks with which they started the season, the Aveyronnaises are fine with crampons. “We are improving ourselves. We had fewer chances in Reims than in Dijon, but the action was cleaner, we were more confident in the game., assures the native of Montpellier. Especially since the two teams have been on the same record for two days: two draws.
