Football Amateurs (National 3): Canets reception, a final before the hour for TPF

Returning to the National 3 stage, Tarbais will face their runner-up in a high-altitude duel (Saturday, 6 PM). With a victory, the Bigourdans will be in an ideal position, four rounds before the end of the season, to secure a second promotion in two years.

Here are the Tarbais at the foot of their last mountain of the season. A final block of three matches where they will face Canet-en-Roussillon, Pau, and finally Lège-Cap-Ferret before ending with the reception of Onet-le-Château and a trip to Blagnac to close the season. But before envisioning the end of a successful 2025/2026 season for the Bigourdans, the focus is first on the clash against Canet. Second in the standings, they lost the top spot after TPF’s victory against Agde in early April, in a rescheduled match from the 16th round.

A success that allowed Damien Fachan and his teammates to regain a position they had already secured during the Christmas break. A high-level clash that could either reignite the promotion race towards the end of the season, or propel TPF into a strong favorite position to join the 5th division of French football.

A Pressure-Free Group

A double-edged match that does not weigh at all on the shoulders of Tarbais, who had never imagined finding themselves on top five rounds before the end of the season. “The three teams behind us have the goal of moving up to National 2. We approach this match against Canet with total serenity. We are in a good dynamic. We will approach it like any other match, there is no particular pressure, except that we want to excel at home and maintain this position,” says Marc Fachan.

The lack of pressure among Tarbais could be crucial when facing these high-stake matches. “It is important to balance having no pressure with the ambition to always want to win, not taking these end-of-year matches lightly,” explains the Tarbais coach.

More than the absence of pressure, the residents of Tarbes have several strengths to showcase for the reception of their runner-up. They enter this 22nd round with the best attack and defense in the league. “That is quite representative of our form. For this match, we will follow our playing principles, what we have established since the beginning of the year. No need to try anything new. We will continue to play high, press, and try to be as vertical as possible on the field,” analyzes the former full-back. A combination that could tilt the balance in favor of TPF, who already impressed in the first leg against Canet.

Still No National 2 Objective

While Marc Fachan acknowledges that these two matches will be different, there is no intention to project towards the end of the season and a possible promotion to National 2. “We have zero objective of moving up to National 2. None at all. I say it clearly. The club does not aim to reach National 2. However, we are a club that can adapt to anything. So, if we achieve good results at the end of the year, I have no doubts about the club’s ability to adapt. But there is no objective to reach National 2. The club’s only goal is to remain in National 3. Our ambition now is to compete with every opponent we will face until the end of the championship,” emphasizes the Tarbais coach.

In Regional 1, Tarbais have always refrained from discussing a promotion to National 3. The same approach this year, we will see if it brings them luck. The first indication will be on Saturday evening.