Strasbourg will be hoping to put distance between themselves and the Ligue 1 drop zone when they welcome Monaco to the Stade de la Meinau on Sunday.

The visitors, meanwhile, are currently sitting in third spot and looking to pick up three crucial points to aid their bid to secure Champions League qualification.

Match preview

Strasbourg are facing a tough battle to extend their top-flight stay into a ninth successive season, with Les Bleu et Blanc sitting in 12th place and just two points above Le Havre, who occupy the relegation playoff spot.

Patrick Vieira's charges gave up the lead on a couple of occasions to miss out on maximum points in their most recent outing against relegation rivals Montpellier.

An Ismael Doukoure own goal levelled the scoreline following Habib Diarra's spot kick, before Emanuel Emegha saw his 83rd-minute effort cancelled out by Arnaud Nordin's late equaliser, which ultimately extended Strasbourg's winless run to seven top-flight matches.

Vieira will be concerned by his team's defensive vulnerabilities, having seen his side ship 13 goals across their last five matches, taking their total of conceded goals to 37 for the Ligue 1 season – only three Ligue 1 teams have let in more this term.

With the hosts searching for their first league win of 2024, they will be desperate to beat Monaco for the first time since recording a narrow 1-0 victory in August 2022.

Monaco bounced back from a disappointing defeat against Toulouse to take four points from their next two meetings with Lens and Paris Saint-Germain.

Takumi Minamino netted a 92nd-minute winner to guide Monaco to a narrow 3-2 win over Lens after Adi Hutter's side had given up a two-goal lead, and they subsequently backed up that result with a hard-fought goalless draw in last Sunday's home meeting with leaders PSG.

Having lost just one of their last six league games, Les Monegasques currently occupy one of the three qualification spots for the main draw of next season's Champions League, but they can ill-afford to rest on their laurels with just a point separating them from Lille in fourth position.

Monaco have enjoyed success on their recent trips away from the Principality, having won four of their last five away league matches (D1), ensuring that they are unbeaten on their travels in the top flight since losing 5-2 to PSG in November.

The visitors will also draw inspiration from the fact that they have emerged victorious from each of their previous three games against Strasbourg, including a comprehensive 3-0 win when the two sides met at Stade Louis II in August.

Team News

Chelsea loanee Angelo Gabriel recently joined Strasbourg's growing injury list after picking up an injury in training ahead of last Sunday's draw with Montpellier.

The hosts are also having to cope without the services of Karol Fila, Jermey Sebas, Moise Sahi Dion, Abakar Sylla and Lebo Mothiba.

Frederic Guilbert lost his place in the side to Marvin Senaya for the recent trip to the South of France, but the 29-year-old could be recalled to the lineup to make his 20th start of the Ligue 1 season.

As for Monaco, defender Mohammed Salisu is unlikely to be involved after missing the goalless draw with PSG due to a hamstring issue.

The Ghana international has joined an absentee list which features Vanderson, Ismail Jakobs, Caia Henrique, Mohamed Camara, Krepin Diatta and Breel Embolo.

Denis Zakaria is expected to come straight back into the starting XI after serving a one-match suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards.

Strasbourg possible starting lineup:
Bellaarouch; Doukoure, Perrin, Sow; Guilbert, Sissoko, Mwanga, Delaine; Bakwa, Diarra, Emegha

Monaco possible starting lineup:
Majecki; Singo, Maripan, Kehrer, Ouattara; Minamino, Zakaria, Fofana, Golovin; Balogun, Ben Yedder

We say: Strasbourg 1-3 Monaco

Monaco have proven to be an irresistible force in recent away matches, and we think that the visitors will utilise their impressive firepower to get the better of a Strasbourg side that has struggled defensively in recent times.

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