Strasbourg will begin 2025 by welcoming Auxerre to Stade de la Meinau on Sunday on matchday 16 of the Ligue 1 campaign for both sides.
The club from Alsace are 13th in the table, defeating Le Havre 3-0 in their previous domestic affair, while AJA sit eighth after earning a 2-2 result versus Lens.
Match preview
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Down the stretch of 2024, Strasbourg gained some momentum, going unbeaten in their final three matches of the year across all competitions.
Liam Rosenior has seen his side win their last two games by a 3-0 margin, ousting RC Calais from the Coupe de France just days before Christmas.
Le Racing, however, are winless in their previous two domestic encounters at Stade de la Meinau, claiming a 0-0 draw with Reims the last time out.
On five occasions in 2024-25, Strasbourg have failed to win a league fixture when scoring the opening goal, dropping 12 points as a result.
After 15 domestic matches this season, they have accumulated 17 points, the same amount they had at this stage of their previous campaign.
They are unbeaten in four consecutive meetings at home against Auxerre in Ligue 1, maintaining a clean sheet on three successive occasions.
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One of the biggest surprises in the French top flight so far this season, Auxerre are coming into 2025 with eyes on an unlikely place in Europe.
Christophe Pelissier's men are just four points behind Lyon for a spot in the Europa Conference League in what is their first season back in the French top flight.
The Ligue 2 champions from a season ago enter this year on a four-match winless run across all competitions, exiting the Coupe de France with a 1-0 defeat to Dunkerque last month.
AJA have been among the best home teams in the competition this season but have not been as strong outside Stade Abbe Deschamps, with their four defeats in Ligue 1 occurring as the visitors.
This season, they have picked up 21 points, eight more than they had after 15 domestic matchdays in their previous top-flight campaign in 2022-23.
It has been over two decades since their previous victory at Strasbourg in Ligue 1, claiming a 2-0 triumph in a 2004 visit to Southeast France.
Team News
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On Saturday, Strasbourg could miss Moise Sahi and Thomas Delaine due to knee issues, while Yoni Gomis has a sore foot and Tidiane Diallo is dealing with a knock.
Goals from Habib Diarra, Sebastian Nanasi and Chelsea loanee Andrey Santos were more than enough to see them earn a convincing victory over Le Havre.
Auxerre might be without Saad Agouzoul and Ange-Loic N'Gatta due to knocks, while Lasso Coulibaly and Nathan Buayi-Kiala are likely sidelined because of cruciate ligament injuries and Rayan Raveloson will be suspended.
In their previous domestic affair, they got goals from Gaetan Perrin and Gabriel Osho, which enabled them to earn a single point against Lens.
Strasbourg possible starting lineup:
Petrovic; Doue, Sarr, Doukoure, Moreira; Diong, Santos, Diarra, Sebas; Nanasi, Mara
Auxerre possible starting lineup:
Leon; Osho, Jubal, Akpa; Joly, Diousse, Danois, Mensah; Perrin, Traore; Sinayoko
We say: Strasbourg 2-0 Auxerre
Away from home, Auxerre are far too passive and dependent on their goalkeeper Donovan Leon, so we believe an in-form Strasbourg side should be able to take advantage of that this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
