Preview: Strasbourg vs. Saint-Etienne – prediction, team
Sports Mole provides an overview of Sunday’s Ligue 1 clash between Strasbourg and Saint-Etienne, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Basement side Saint Etienne will aim to secure their first victory of the Ligue 1 season in the 10th attempt on their trip to face Strasbourg Sunday afternoon.
The visitors saved a point in dramatic circumstances against Lyon in the last outing, as Julien StephanThe Montpellier team drew their own 1-1 draw with Montpellier HSC.
Match preview
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Montpellier’s pink kit – worn to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month – started out as the eye-catching thing on the pitch during Strasbourg’s clash with La Paillade on October 2, but that was before Florent Mollet hit a thunderous half volley in the 12th minute of the game.
However, the Strasbourg veteran Kevin Gameiro would arrive with their own powerful effort just before the half hour mark, and there were no more goals to score at the Stade de la Mosson as Strasbourg won another respectable result under Stephan.
The former Rennes manager has already seen his side outclassed by Lille and Lyon this season, but a total of 11 points in their opening nine matches places them safely in 12th place at this early stage of the campaign, just two points of the top half.
The Racers have gleaned seven of their 11 points this season at home – beating Brest and Metz in goal-laden performances after being held to a 1-1 draw with Troyes – but their opponents are not to be taken lightly despite their situation lamentable in the table.
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Houssem AouarThe coolly taken 41st minute opener seemed to put Lyon on the path to a comfortable success against Saint-Etienne before the international break, but after the goalkeeper Antoine Lopes was sent off for handball, the Greens made their extra man count.
A dramatic late penalty – awarded by VAR – saw Wahbi Khazri get on the spot and convert in the fourth minute of added time to save a memorable point for Saint-Etienne, but this result did not do much to improve their position in the standings.
Being one of only two teams in the division still without a win after nine games of the season – the other being Brest – Saint-Etienne remains at the bottom of the table with four points, although it is only behind Brest for the goals scored – eight against Les 10 des pirates.
Unsurprisingly, an eight-strike tally at the right end of the pitch is the league’s smallest alongside newly promoted Troyes, but the draw with Lyon at least ended a five-game losing streak for Claude Puel‘s because they are now looking to avoid a fourth loss on the away rebound.
Saint-Etienne have also scored at least two goals in each of their four away games this season, and their trip to Strasbourg last season ended in a 1-0 defeat, but they managed to beat Les Runners 2-0 at home.
Strasbourg Ligue 1 form:
Saint-Etienne Ligue 1 form:
Team news
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Strasbourg playmaker Adrien thomasson will serve the second of his two-game suspension after being sent off against Lille in matchweek eight, while Alexandre djiku will also be missing due to an accumulation of bookings.
Sanjin Prcic should continue in the hole while Thomasson remains absent, while Lucas Perrin is the most likely candidate to replace Djiku in Stephan’s five-man rearguard.
Lebo Mothiba, Karol Fila and Moise sahi remain absent for the hosts, while Habib Diallo he is unlikely to return to the attack right after Gameiro and Ludovic Ajorque combined for the equalizer against Montpellier.
Saint-Etienne remains quite short on the lateral front with Alpha Sissoko, Aimen Moueffek, Gabriel Silva and Yvann macon all put aside, while Miguel Trauco should be assessed after a late return from international service with Peru.
The defensive shortage of the Greens saw Mahdi camara makeshift right-back function against Lyon, and the baseline could remain intact after a resolute performance against Lyon.
Romain Hamouma and Adil Aouchiche both aim to move Ryad Boudebouz in the final third here, but the first is still without a goal or an assist in the 2021-22 season.
Starting eleven possible in Strasbourg:
Sales; Guilbert, Le Marchand, Perrin, Nyamsi, Caci; Sissoko, Aholou; Prcic; Ajorque, Gameiro
Starting eleven possible in Saint-Etienne:
Green; Camara, Moukoudi, Kolodziejczak, Trauco; Nordin, Neyou, Youssouf, Bouanga; Hamouma, Khazri
We say: Strasbourg 2-1 Saint-Etienne
The international break arguably came at the worst possible time for Saint-Etienne after taking a point in their clash with Lyon, and Strasbourg will be sure to reveal their opponents’ shortcomings in the side zones.
Stephan hasn’t really had an explosive start to life at Strasbourg, but the hosts’ season so far can certainly be called a solid one, and we can envision Les Coureurs racking up more misery on Puel with limited success on Sunday.
Superior council
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