Looking to get back to winning ways following defeat last time out, Strasbourg will welcome Champions League-chasing Nice to Stade de la Meinau in Ligue 1 on Sunday afternoon.
Le Racing were narrowly defeated at the home of top-three hopefuls Lille last time out, whilst Les Aiglons secured a point away at Marseille during their most recent fixture.
Match preview
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Strasbourg were unable to extend their unbeaten run in Ligue 1 to five games last weekend, when Le Racing visited Europe-chasing Lille and ultimately came away with nothing tangible to show for their considerable and admirable efforts at a sold-out Decathlon Arena.
It took only 12 minutes for Les Dogues to take control of the top-flight contest through leading marksman and Canada international Jonathan David, who breached the net of Strasbourg goalkeeper Alaa Bellaarouch to secure the striker's 17th goal of the Ligue 1 season.
Having failed to pick up any points from a trip to Lille last time out, Strasbourg currently occupy 13th position in the Ligue 1 standings, eight points ahead of 16th-placed Le Havre, who are staring down the barrel at the relegation playoff should the division remain the same.
Well known for his spells in the top flight of Spain at Sevilla, Atletico Madrid and Valencia, Kevin Gameiro is an experienced head for Le Racing but does not lead the club's Golden Boot race, with that title currently bestowed to 21-year-old Dutchman Emanuel Emegha.
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Following a worrying run of four defeats in five matches across all competitions - a spell which saw their Coupe de France dreams expelled by Paris Saint-Germain - Nice are now relatively back on the track, extending a league unbeaten run to three matches with a draw at Marseille last time out.
Terem Moffi opened the scoring for the visitors at a packed-out Stade Velodrome before 10-man Marseille turned the tie on its head courtesy of strikes from Jonathan Clauss and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but Les Aiglons managed to force a point in the 72nd minute thanks to a goal by Melvin Bard.
After collecting a respectable tally of five points from their last three Ligue 1 encounters, Francesco Farioli's men sit fifth in the French top-flight table, four points behind Lille in the final Champions League spot with four matches remaining.
Eleven-goal Moffi has taken the majority of the spotlight this term, but credit must also be given to former Birmingham City and Chelsea winger Jeremie Boga, who has provided eight goal contributions since joining the club from Serie A outfit Atalanta BC in July 2023.
Team News
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Strasbourg have been dealt a major blow in recent months, with Angelo Gabriel being sidelined for the remainder of the campaign due to a groin issue.
Le Racing will also be without the services of right-back Karol Fila, who suffered a cruciate ligament injury in September and is yet to feature in Ligue 1 this term.
The hosts will also be light of options at the focal point of their attack, with Lebo Mothiba still recovering from a knee injury sustained in December.
Nice have their own player who will not step onto the pitch again in 2023-24, with winger Sofiane Diop yet to start in 2024 due to a foot issue.
Le Aiglons will also be without Valentin Rosier, who sustained a thigh injury at the beginning of the month and is expected to be back in May
Strasbourg possible starting lineup:
Bellaarouch; Sow, Perrin, Sylla; Guilbert, Sissoko, Santos, Delaine; Bakawa, Gameiro, Diarra
Nice possible starting lineup:
Bulka; Lotomba, Todibo, Dante, Bard; Boudaoui, Rosario, Sanson; Cho, Laborde, Moffi
We say: Strasbourg 1-2 Nice
Strasbourg failed to find the net last time out, and although we believe that they will have more luck on Sunday, we feel that Le Racing are heading towards another defeat.
Nice earned a respectable point at Marseille last weekend, meaning we reckon that they will go one better in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
