Clermont will be looking to close the gap on the top half of Ligue 1 when they welcome relegation-threatened Angers to Stade Gabriel Montpied on Sunday afternoon.

The hosts have won back-to-back games, most recently against Troyes and AC Ajaccio, while Angers extended a rare unbeaten run with an unlikely victory last time out.

Match preview

Clermont made it two-straight Ligue 1 wins with a convincing 2-0 success at Troyes last Sunday, with first-half goals from Muhammed Cham and Johan Gastien securing all three points at Stade de I'Aube.

Pascal Gastein's men return to home soil this weekend, with their last result at Stade Gabriel Montpied being a 2-1 victory over Ajaccio - a pair of Grejohn Kyei penalties were the difference that day.

The Lancers are currently 11th in the Ligue 1 standings, and with the relegation zone a sizeable 14 points behind, the team will be looking to chase down Lorient in 10th place during their last eight matches of the season.

Clermont have fared better on their travels so far this term, with just 18 of their 40 league points coming in front of their home faithful, scoring just 13 goals in 15 games on familiar territory.

Angers arguably recorded their most-significant win of the Ligue 1 season last Saturday with a 1-0 success over Europe-chasing Lille at Stade Raymond-Kopa.

Halid Sabanovic's 84th-minute strike decided the contest in favour of the hosts, and although the visiting Lille side had the majority of possession, it was Angers who were able to produce a telling moment in attack.

However, the Black and Whites' third win of their league campaign did little to ease their worries of relegation - they remain bottom of the league standings and a mammoth 14 points behind 16th-placed Brest.

Alexandre Dujeux's men have managed to collect only five points in their 14 away matches so far this season, and their seven away goals is a tally five fewer than any other side in the division.

Team News

Clermont are set to be without striker Komnen Andric for the visit of Angers on Sunday - the 27-year-old Serbian has not featured for his side since before the international break due to a groin injury.

Gastien is expected to name a similar team to the one which impressed in Troyes last time out, meaning the likes of Saif-Eddine Khaoui will have to settle for a place on the bench once again.

Angers have a certain absentee among their ranks for Sunday, with ex-Bristol City forward Lois Diony out with a cruciate ligament injury - the Frenchman has only managed eight league starts this term during an injury-riddled period of his career.

Miha Blazic is expected to be back in action later this month following a thigh injury sustained in March - the Slovenian managed five minutes of football for his national side in late March.

Clermont possible starting lineup:
Diaw; Seidu, Wieteska, Caufriez, Borges; Gonalons, Gastien, Allevinah, Saracevic, Rashani; Kyei

Angers possible starting lineup:
Bernardoni; Valery, Hountondji, Ghoulam; Melali, Capelle, Mendy, Bentaleb, Kalumba; Abdelli, Niane

We say: Clermont 2-0 Angers

Clermont are in a good run of form in Ligue 1, and a home tie with Angers is the perfect opportunity for the hosts to further cement their top-half charge in the closing stages of the season.

Angers have pulled off some impressive results over the past fortnight, but we envisage their brief unbeaten spell coming to an end on Sunday afternoon.


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