Aiming to respond following a defeat last time out, Strasbourg will welcome one of the favourites for relegation, Angers, to Stade de la Meinau on Sunday afternoon for a Ligue 1 clash.
Le Racing lost out in a seven-goal thriller against Lyon prior to the international break, whilst Les Noirs et Blancs were convincingly defeated at home by Nice.
Match preview
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Strasbourg have endured an inconsistent start to the 2024-25 Ligue 1 campaign, experiencing a draw, victory and loss in that order before the club action paused for a fortnight due to the international scene, meaning that Sunday's hosts have definite room for improvement.
After collecting four points from their first two matches, Le Racing suffered their maiden defeat of the season on August 30, when a brilliant brace from attacker Gift Orban in the second half fired Lyon to a pulsating 4-3 success over the visiting side at Groupama Stadium.
Having earned four points from their opening three clashes of the Ligue 1 term, Strasbourg are currently occupying ninth position in the top-flight standings, three points ahead of 16th-placed Montpellier HSC, who lie in the relegation playoff spot.
On loan from Premier League giants Chelsea, who possess one of the most bloated rosters in the world of football, Andrey Santos has netted two goals in his first two Ligue 1 appearances for Le Racing this term after scoring just once during 11 appearances in the second half of the 2023-24 season at the club.
Finishing runners-up in the 2023-24 Ligue 2 campaign, Angers secured an immediate return to the top table of French football following a sobering relegation in 2023, but Sunday's visitors are finding it extremely difficult to establish themselves as a top-flight force at the beginning of this term.
Les Noirs et Blancs have commenced their competitive schedule with three straight defeats in Ligue 1, losing contests against Lens, Lille and Nice by an aggregate scoreline of 7-1, suggesting that there any several areas of improvement for the newly-promoted side to address.
Angers' maiden goal of the season arrived during the 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Nice last time out on September 1, when captain and Algeria international Himad Abdelli held his nerve from 12 yards to evade the efforts of goalkeeper Marcin Bulka during a goal-laden second half at Stade Raymond Kopa.
Alexandre Dujeux's troops are one of four sides in the division who are yet to experience that winning feeling in 2024-25, with Les Noirs et Blancs currently sitting in 17th position, only ahead of fellow top-flight newcomers Saint-Etienne on goal difference.
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Team News
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Strasbourg remain without the services of young defender Yoni Gomis, who suffered a knee injury in early August, meaning that he is yet to feature this season.
Battling with a similar issue, Thomas Delaine is a huge miss from Le Racing's dressing room due to his experience, with the 32-year-old expected back at the end of the month.
Until then, it is highly likely that Swedish wide man Sebastian Nanasi continues at wing-back, with Abakar Sylla operating on the left side of a centre-back trio.
A consistent threat for Clermont Foot last term despite their relegation, Angers summer arrival Jim Allevinah is yet to make his competitive debut for the club due to a groin injury.
Joining his fellow attacker in the medical room, Justin-Noel Kalumba is set to be sidelined until early December because of a broken ankle.
Strasbourg possible starting lineup:
Johnsson; Doue, Sow, Sylla; Bakwa, Santos, Doukoure, Nanasi, Wiley; Emegha, Diarra
Angers possible starting lineup:
Fofana; Arcus, Bamba, Hountondji, Lefort, Ekomie; Belkhdim, Aholou, Abdelli; Cherif, El Melali
We say: Strasbourg 2-0 Angers
Despite their mixed bag of results at the beginning of this term, Strasbourg will be very confident of putting struggling Angers to the sword on home soil.
With a woeful away record in Ligue 1 stretching back to their relegation campaign of 2022-23, Les Noirs et Blancs are likely to suffer another defeat on the road this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
