Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Ligue 1 clash between Strasbourg and Lorient, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Looking to bounce back following a defeat last time out, Strasbourg will welcome strugglers Lorient to Stade de la Meinau for a Ligue 1 clash on Sunday afternoon.
The Blue and Whites were beat away at Lens during their most-recent fixture, while Lorient secured a much-needed three points over Reims on home soil.
Match preview
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Strasbourg have now suffered back-to-back defeats in Ligue 1 following a 3-1 defeat at Europe-chasing Lens last Saturday afternoon at Stade Bollaert-Delelis, where the hosts hit the front early on and never appeared to be in danger of dropping any points from the contest.
Elye Wahi opened the scoring for Lens in the 16th minute before David Costa doubled their advantage, and a Thomas Delaine strike for the Blue and Whites just before the half-time interval was not enough to inspire a comeback, as Florian Sotoca netted in the second period for the hosts.
Patrick Vieira‘s men have dropped to 10th place in the Ligue 1 standings after successive defeats in the division for the first time since the middle of October, meaning Sunday’s hosts are a sizeable 10 points behind fifth-placed Lille and the aforementioned Lens in sixth.
After losing Jean-Ricner Bellegarde to the riches of the Premier League and Wolverhampton Wanderers during the summer window, Strasbourg were once again raided for their best talent by English clubs, with first-choice goalkeeper Matz Sels switching to Nottingham Forest.
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Lorient have now recorded two-straight wins in Ligue 1 for the first time in the 2023-24 campaign after comfortably seeing off ninth-placed Reims at Stade du Moustoir last Sunday afternoon, but the hosts were forced to be patient for their opener and subsequent points.
Netting his third goal in as many top-flight appearances, Ivorian striker Mohamed Bayo commenced the scoring for Les Merlus in the 69th minute, before former Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko arrived off the bench to double their advantage and wrap up only a second victory of the calendar year.
Regis Le Bris will be breathing a sigh of relief after his side collected a maximum of six points from their last pair of league clashes, meaning that they have moved up to 16th in the top-flight standings, behind 15th-placed Montpellier by the small matter of goal difference.
A number of high-profile names departed Lorient in the summer window such as when Moritz Jenz and Adil Aouchiche moved to Wolfsburg and Sunderland respectively, but Les Merlus were able to retain the services of the talented Elie Kroupi, who has netted four Ligue 1 goals at just 17 years old this term.
Strasbourg Ligue 1 form:
Strasbourg form (all competitions):
Lorient Ligue 1 form:
Lorient form (all competitions):
Team News
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Strasbourg remain without the services of veteran marksman Kevin Gameiro, with the 36-year-old expected to be out for a few weeks due to a strain injury.
The Blue and Whites will definitely be unable to call on the talents of both Angelo Gabriel and Ismael Doukoure, who are out until later this month with groin and ankle issues respectively.
As for Lorient, Quentin Boisgard remains in the club’s medical room and yet to feature in the 2023-24 campaign because of a serious foot injury.
Former Manchester City man Benjamin Mendy is struggling with a hamstring injury but could return to first-team action at the end of February.
Strasbourg possible starting lineup:
Bellaarouch; Senaya, Perrin, Sylla, Guilbert; Bakwa, Mwanga, Sissoko, Delaine, Diarra; Emegha
Lorient possible starting lineup:
Mvogo; Adjei, Talbi, Toure; Katseris, Abergel, Louza, Le Bris; Kari, Ponceau, Bamba
We say: Strasbourg 2-1 Lorient
Despite a difficult result last time out, Strasbourg have proven their ability to compete in the top half of the division and should be confident of winning on Sunday.
Lorient have been impressive in back-to-back successes, but we cannot imagine them making it three-straight wins at Stade de la Meinau this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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