Clermont will be looking to earn their first win of the month when they host Strasbourg at Stade Gabriel Montpied on Sunday afternoon in Ligue 1.
The hosts lost away at Rennes in their last outing, whereas Strasbourg were victorious at home to struggling side Angers - a game they would have expected to win.
Match preview
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Following an unbeaten league campaign in January to begin 2023 on a positive note, Clermont are yet to win a match in February, with the club now four games without a win after a 2-0 defeat at Rennes.
That result at Roazhon Park means that Clermont have now lost three consecutive games by a 2-0 scoreline, with issues at both ends of the pitch for manager Pascal Gastien to contend with.
Currently sitting 12th in the Ligue 1 standings with 30 points from 24 clashes, Clermont are 11 points ahead of the bottom four, meaning that the remit is to finish as high as possible in the French top flight after narrowly avoiding relegation last season.
Clermont have been poor in front of goal at their home ground, netting just 10 times in 12 matches at Stade Gabriel Montpied, with only AC Ajaccio possessing a poor scoring record in front of their home faithful.
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In terms of short-term form, Strasbourg are enjoying their best run of the season to date, having won two of their last three Ligue 1 matches.
A brace from Habib Diallo was enough to secure all three points against basement boys Angers last time out, a game in which Strasbourg dominated the shot statistics but not the possession.
Strasbourg are sitting precariously above the bottom four in 15th place, just two points ahead of 17th-placed Troyes heading into this weekend's round of fixtures.
Frederic Antonetti have a big month coming up in March, in which they face off against both Troyes and Brest, but it is now time to focus on the challenge that awaits at Clermont on Sunday.
Team News
Clermont will be without centre-back Alidu Seidu this weekend after the 22-year-old suffered a meniscus injury during the goalless draw at Lille - the player is expected to be back next month.
A longer-term absentee for Clermont is that of Johan Gastien, with the midfielder yet to return from a calf injury sustained in the win at Angers last month.
Strasbourg will be unable to call on the services of Jean Aholou - the midfielder is to serve the final match of his three-game suspension by sitting out of the action on Sunday.
Mouhamadou Diarra will be a big miss in the visitors' midfield this weekend, with the 19-year-old sidelined currently with a calf injury since the start of the month.
Clermont possible starting lineup:
Diaw; Konate, Ogier, Wieteska; Allevinah, Magnin, Rashani, Borges; Saracevic, Maurer, Kyei
Strasbourg possible starting lineup:
Sels; Doukoure, Djiku, Le Marchand; Guilbert, Sanson, Sissoko, Lienard, Sobol; Gameiro, Diallo
We say: Clermont 1-1 Strasbourg
Clermont look set to avoid a relegation battle this year but need to improve on their recent results in order to achieve a top-half finish this season.
Strasbourg have a slender advantage over the bottom four but have impressed over recent weeks, and we believe that they will earn a point on their travels this Sunday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
