In their final home fixture this year, Lorient host Strasbourg at Stade du Moustoir on Sunday, looking to end a six-match winless run in Ligue 1.
Les Merlus are a point back of Toulouse and a guaranteed place in the top-flight next season, having lost their previous encounter 4-2 versus Marseille, while Le Racing have dug themselves out of relegation danger, moving up to 10th with a 2-1 triumph over Le Havre.
Match preview
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The seasonal change from summer to fall has taken a toll on Lorient, who have won just one of their dozen top-flight encounters since the beginning of September.
After beginning the season positively, unbeaten in their opening three Ligue 1 affairs, it has only been downhill for the club from Brittany, who have conceded more goals than anyone in the top-flight (29).
Lorient find themselves in a precarious position at the moment, separated by a mere three points from Rennes in 13th, though Lyon, currently at the bottom of the standings heading into matchday 15, trail Les Merlus by only two points.
To this point of the domestic campaign, Lorient have won just two fixtures, tied with the 1998-99 team for the fewest victories after 15 league games in the top flight and six fewer than they managed at this same stage a season ago.
With two consecutive defeats at Stade du Moustoir, it is as many losses as Regis Le Bris's men suffered in their previous nine domestic home outings.
Since their promotion into Ligue 1 in 2020, Le FCL have lost just one of their six games versus Strasbourg in this competition (4-0 at Stade de la Meinau in 2021-22).
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The previous week felt like a rebirth for the side from Alsace, who have picked themselves up off the canvas with four points in their last two domestic affairs.
At the beginning of December, Patrick Vieira's men were flirting with relegation, but in the span of a few days, their fortunes have changed, with Strasbourg currently in the top half of the table thanks to a pair of positive results.
Their victory last Sunday ended an eight-match winless run for them in this competition, with Le RCS netting multiple times in a domestic affair for just the fourth time this season.
They enter this contest without a victory in four successive Ligue 1 fixtures away from home, though Strasbourg have points in two of their previous three domestic road contests.
While a winning goal deep into stoppage time won them the match against Le Havre, Strasbourg were able to score in the opening half for just the second time over this domestic campaign.
Over half of their goals scored in Ligue 1 this season (8/14) have come in the 75th minute or beyond, including two in stoppage time.
Team News
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Quentin Boisgard and Dembo Sylla are doubtful for Lorient this weekend due to foot sprains, while Loris Mouyokolo is dealing with a sore groin.
Ayman Kari is unlikely to see the field on Sunday because of an issue with his ankle, Igor Silva has a muscle strain and Tiemoue Bakayoko will not be available due to a thigh injury.
Goals from Romain Faivre and Benjamin Mendy last Sunday were ultimately in vain, as Yvon Mvogo has conceded seven goals in his previous two home fixtures.
Maxime Bastian remains unavailable for Strasbourg with a muscle strain, Gerzino Nyamsi has a sore knee and Ismael Doukoure is out because of an ankle injury.
Emanuel Emegha notched his team-leading fourth of the campaign a week ago before Abakar Sylla scored a dramatic winner with 96 minutes and 17 seconds played, the latest goal in Ligue 1 this season.
After scoring at least 10 goals in his first two seasons back with Le Racing, Kevin Gameiro has only found the back of the net once in 2023-24, scoring in their 2-1 defeat at Reims.
Lorient possible starting lineup:
Mvogo; Kalulu, Laporte, Talbi, Yongwa; Innocent, Abergel; Faivre, Ponceau, B. Mendy; Kroupi
Strasbourg possible starting lineup:
Sels; Senaya, Perrin, Sylla, Delaine; Sissoko, Mwanga; Diarra, Sahi, Deminguet; Emegha
We say: Lorient 1-2 Strasbourg
As we near the end of 2023, Strasbourg appear to be finding their form, and we expect them to put away at least a couple of their opportunities against a Lorient side who have been poor defensively throughout the campaign.
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