Espérance de Tunis claimed an important 1–0 victory over Étoile du Sahel on Sunday afternoon at the Radès Stadium, in Matchday 9 of the Tunisian Ligue 1. A deserved win, secured thanks to Yan Sasse’s first-half header, though the final scoreline hardly reflects the one-sided nature of the game.

The match began with good rhythm and intent from both sides, though neither team created real danger early on. The first spark came in the 10th minute when Sasse and Belaïli combined dangerously before the Algerian was brought down inside the box — only for the referee to whistle a handball against him instead.

Just three minutes later, Jebali unleashed a powerful long-range effort that forced Ben Hassen into a spectacular save. From the ensuing corner, Tka tried his luck from distance, but the ball flew just over the crossbar.

The Blood and Gold were clearly in control by then. Belaïli orchestrated most of the attacks, and in the 27th minute, he showcased his class again — setting up Laïfi for a shot deflected into a corner. From that same play came the breakthrough: Belaïli played short to Guenichi, who lifted a perfect cross for Yan Sasse. The Brazilian rose highest and headed home the opener (1–0), sending the Radès crowd into celebration.

However, bad luck struck ten minutes later. Both defenders, Tougai and Ben Ali, were forced off in quick succession with muscular injuries — a consequence of the poor pitch condition. Despite these setbacks, Espérance maintained their momentum and could have doubled the lead just before half-time, when Sasse appeared to be fouled in the box, only for the referee to wave play on.

At the break, the 1–0 scoreline flattered the visitors. Espérance had dominated every aspect of the game.

The second half followed the same script: Espérance dictated the tempo and created waves of opportunities. Tka (51’) and Jebali (54’) both went close. Then, at the 62nd minute, Belaïli found Boualia, whose delightful curling effort crashed off the crossbar — inches away from a wonder goal. Two minutes later, Boualia dazzled with a series of dribbles before being taken down inside the area, but again, no penalty was given.

Étoile du Sahel had one rare moment of danger at the 68th minute when Yassine Chaâbani’s header forced Ben Saïd into a stunning reflex save — the kind of stop that preserves victories.

Espérance kept pushing, with Meriah (79’) and Jelassi (85’) both denied by the outstanding Ben Hassen. In stoppage time, Jabri failed to convert a golden chance following another brilliant setup from Belaïli.

When the final whistle blew, Espérance could celebrate their fourth consecutive league win. The Blood and Gold completely outplayed their rivals, showing fluid football, collective intensity, and remarkable consistency — even if the score remained tight.

The only concern lies in the injuries to Tougai and Ben Ali, which could impact the team’s defensive stability in the coming weeks. But overall, the reigning giants of Tunisian football continue their strong march forward, claiming both the points and the bragging rights from this Classico against Étoile du Sahel.

EST Lineup: Ben Saïd, Ben Ali (Bouchniba 38'), Laifi, Meriah(c), Tougai (Ogbelu 45'+1), Tka, Guenichi, Jebali (Jelassi 78'), Belaïli, Sasse (Boualia 46') and Danho (Jabri 78').
Booking: Belaïli, Ben Saïd.