Due to the French Cup, Bastia's schedule this month is relatively packed.
After returning from the youth academy, Julien continued to throw himself into training and preparation.
They only had two days to prepare.
One day early, on the 17th, they would travel to Tours to get settled, preparing for the 18th match.
Tours.
The capital of the Indre-et-Loire department in France's Centre region, also known as the Heart of France, located in the center of the country.
Once the capital of the Kingdom of France in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Sitting on the team bus, Julien looked out through the window and could see Renaissance-era architecture everywhere.
France's largest river, the Loire, and its second-largest tributary, the Cher, flow through the city center, winding their way past.
Unhurried pedestrians on the streets and tourists wandering around with cameras would even wave and greet when they saw Bastia's team bus.
When the bus arrived at Tours FC's home ground, Stade de la Vallée, the Bastia fans who had traveled with the team were already shouting excitedly: "Bastia!!"
They were chanting in Corsican.
Their expressions were full of pride and honor. This season's Bastia was definitely Ligue 2's strongest dark horse, bar none.
From newly promoted to league leaders, all in the same season!
The Bastia players opened their windows and waved to the fans, making them even more excited.
Before coming, Julien had sent Giroud a Facebook message: "Guess where I am."
Then he posted a photo he had taken with his phone of a church he passed by.
Giroud replied almost instantly. "Saint-Gatien!!"
Giroud continued messaging, "You're in Tours?!"
"Oh right, you're both in Ligue 2. Good luck—no wait, I should be telling you to go easy on my old club."
"I'll be watching the broadcast of this match."
Giroud played for Tours from 2008 to 2010.
In 69 appearances for Tours, he scored 38 goals and provided 9 assists, winning the 2009/10 Ligue 2 Golden Boot.
It was precisely this performance that caught the attention of Ligue 1 team Montpellier. In July 2010, Giroud transferred from Tours to Montpellier.
As for Tours, it's an old French club.
They once played a few seasons in Ligue 1 in the past century, but with mediocre results, spending most years in Ligue 2.
Not a strong team.
Their economic situation was becoming increasingly difficult. In Julien's memory, this team would go bankrupt and liquidate ten years later.
The team was penalized with relegation, dropping from the national third tier at the time to the regional second tier.
Numerically speaking, that's dropping from the third level to the seventh level.
When all Bastia personnel reached the locker room, Hadzibegic smiled and said to the players, "Win this match and try to clinch the title before the French Cup!"
"We are champions!!" Rothen shouted.
Hadzibegic said this because second-place Reims, whether due to pressure or poor player form, had actually lost to unmotivated Monaco this afternoon.
This way, Bastia, already leading by ten points, would lead second-place Reims by 13 points if they won this match!
A huge advantage!
A cliff-like lead!
This meant that by beating Tours, then Bastia facing their 34th round opponent Châteauroux at home and taking another three points, regardless of Reims's results that round, Bastia would be champions!
Four rounds left, leading by thirteen points.
This way, April might determine this season's final outcome!
April 22nd, Ligue 2's 34th round; April 29th, French Cup final.
These two matches would determine whether Bastia could become this season's double champions!
Of course, the prerequisite was winning the current away match.
"Fight, Bastia!!"
With everyone's shout, they walked out of the locker room full of fighting spirit.
In the player tunnel, Tours players looking at the Bastia players were somewhat nervous, especially the several players assigned to defend the right flank, whose eyes couldn't help but drift toward Julien.
They had watched De Rocca's matches before. Every player who defended him had very embarrassing moments during games.
The more focused the defense, the easier it was to be beaten.
Conversely, players who just kept retreating wouldn't get beaten.
"Let's go."
Soon, seeing that time was up, the referee immediately led the players onto the field.
Boom! Boom boom!!
The moment they entered, Stade de la Vallée erupted with the roar of Tours fans.
In their ultras section, hardcore fans were beating large drums, behind them was some fan association, chanting in unison and waving flags.
Because Tours's home jersey was blue, Bastia had to wear their white away kit.
In Bastia fans' hearts, they were the true blue bloods!
In French culture, blue has deep symbolic meaning.
It's seen as a symbol of liberty, equality, and fraternity. During the French Revolution, people used this color to mark their pursuit of freedom and equality. This tradition continues today and has also become the color of the French national team.
So, most clubs also like to use blue.
Players from both sides stood in the center circle.
The referee looked at the time reaching 7:30 and immediately blew the whistle to start the match!
Tours kicked off.
Bastia immediately pressed forward. Even away from home, they played without any conservatism.
Tours coach Zeidler stood on the sideline, never idle, constantly directing players on how to pass.
For this match he used a three-center-back system, with two wing-backs who could attack and defend.
He also specifically assigned wing-back Nganga to man-mark Julien.
Zeidler's thinking was simple: at worst, give up right-flank attacking entirely and use everything for defending Julien, focusing attacks mainly through the center and left flank.
And now with Bastia pressing so high, this was also their chance to counterattack.
De Rocca pressed in the front, with Nganga always following him.
Nganga used his physical attributes to constantly block Julien's position.
This made Julien somewhat uncomfortable.
But that was all.
When Tours lost possession and Julien received Rothen's pass, he touched the ball forward, and the instant Nganga pressed up, Julien made a change of direction, completing the escape.
Whoosh!
The fans gasped, and Zeidler on the sideline cursed: "Idiot!"
He had told Nganga many times that when defending De Rocca, don't get too close when he has the ball—it's easy to get beaten.
Julien dribbled forward.
Seeing more players coming toward him, he performed two consecutive stepovers, taking advantage of the defenders' attention being on him.
Suddenly he made a through pass.
Maolida made a diagonal run to receive it, holding off the Tours center-back, drew back his leg, and struck with full force!
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