Lyon return to Groupama Stadium on Saturday in search of their first home victory in Ligue 1 since late October when they host Strasbourg.
Both teams have yet to win a domestic fixture in 2023, as OL drew 0-0 at Nantes on Wednesday, while the club from Alsace remain in relegation danger after playing to a 2-2 tie with Lens.
Match preview
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For the third time in the 21st century, Olympique Lyonnais have failed to win their opening two league fixtures to start a calendar year, going goalless against Clermont (1-0) and Nantes.
Laurent Blanc's side are now facing a nine-point deficit in the race for a qualification spot in Europe next season, while they have not scored more than once in a home game in this competition since smashing Angers 5-0 at the beginning of September.
In eight league matches over this campaign, the former World Cup winner with France has lost more times (three) than he did in his previous 38 domestic outings as coach of Paris Saint-Germain in 2015-16 (two).
Although they have 25 points after 18 matches in Ligue 1, one more than they accumulated at this stage a season ago, Lyon are still below the standard of what we have come to expect from this club.
They hold a 100% record in 2022-23 versus sides currently in the relegation zone, defeating Angers, Auxerre and Brest by a combined score of 11-3.
Lyon are used to having the ball and knocking it around, ranked second in Ligue 1 regarding both passes and possession, but lately have not been able to make much of that possession count.
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In his first match in charge as interim boss, Mathieu Le Scornet saw his side respond well to an early setback on Wednesday. In the end though, Le Racing could not maintain their 2-1 advantage and were denied a second victory in this season's competition.
If Ligue 1 history means anything, then their prospects of remaining in the French top-flight beyond this campaign are not great, as 14 of the 15 teams who have accumulated just one domestic triumph after 18 games have been relegated.
It is the third time that RSC have managed fewer than two wins at this stage of a top-flight campaign, something no other French club can say.
Half of their points this season have come away from home, along with their only victory, defeating Angers 3-2 at Stade Raymond Kopa in October.
Strasbourg have conceded multiple times in 10 of their previous 11 domestic affairs, but have also found the back of the net on 10 occasions over that stretch.
Le Racing have not had many memorable visits to Lyon in this competition, losing 11 of their previous 12 road fixtures played against them.
Team News
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Anthony Lopes picked up his first clean sheet in between the stick for Lyon since October, while their leading scorer in Ligue 1, Alexandre Lacazette, has failed to find the back of the net in his last two encounters.
Karl Toko Ekambi has four goals in his career versus Strasbourg, including the equaliser in a 1-1 draw in Alsace last season, Moussa Dembele notched one in this exact fixture over the previous campaign, Dejan Lovren made his first league appearance on Wednesday since joining the club on a free transfer from Zenit Saint Petersburg earlier this month and Camilo has yet to feature after returning from a loan spell at Cuiaba in Brazil.
Julian Pollersbeck and Henrique are not expected back until the end of January because of knee injuries, while Houssem Aouar should return around that same time from an unknown issue.
Sanjin Prcic scored his first of the campaign for Strasbourg on Wednesday, Kevin Gameiro notched his first of 2023, while top goalscorer Habib Diallo is searching for his first domestic strike since mid-November.
Diallo had the only goal in their road defeat (3-1) at Lyon last season, Ibrahima Sissoko found the back of the net in their 1-1 draw at home against Lyon in 2021-22 and Ludovic Ajorque, who led them with 12 strikes over that campaign, has only netted once in 2022-23.
Nordine Kandil is dealing with a sore foot, Colin Dagba might be out for a few more weeks due to a calf strain, Thomas Delaine in unavailable with some sore muscles, Eiji Kawashima will be sidelined because of a shoulder issue and Karol Fila continues to recover from an injured hamstring.
Lyon possible starting lineup:
Lopes; Tagliafico, Lukeba, Diomande, Kumbedi; Faivre, Tolisso, Caqueret; Toko Ekambi, Dembele; Lacazette
Strasbourg possible starting lineup:
Sels; Dagba, Doukoure, Perrin, Nyamsi, Lienard; Diarra, Prcic, Bellegarde; Diallo, Gameiro
We say: Lyon 1-1 Strasbourg
On paper, Lyon should not have any trouble defeating Strasbourg, but outside of Lacazette, no one on their team has been consistent from one match to the next.
Racing looked more motivated versus Lens but overall have not shown that they can sustain early momentum throughout 90 minutes.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joel Lefevre
