SM
Liverpool vs. PSG: 10 hrs 4 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
S
Ligue 1 | Gameweek 20
Jan 17, 2021 at 2pm UK
Stade de la Meinau
S

Strasbourg
1 - 0
St Etienne

Ajorque (29')
Sissoko (36'), Aholou (51')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Gabard (12'), Gourna-Douath (56')

Preview: Strasbourg vs. Saint-Etienne - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Strasbourg vs. Saint-Etienne - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Sunday's Ligue 1 clash between Strasbourg and Saint-Etienne, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Strasbourg take on Saint-Etienne in Ligue 1 on Sunday, with both sides having opened up a small gap ahead of the relegation zone in recent matches.

The hosts recorded an impressive 1-0 win at Lens last weekend, although St Etienne were leapfrogged by Reims in the table after losing 3-1 to them away from home.


Match preview

Indeed, after a dreadful start which saw them lose six of their first seven Ligue 1 matches this season, Strasbourg have significantly picked up since to move six points clear of the relegation zone.

Thierry Laurey's side have been boosted by Habib Diallo and Ludovic Ajorque scoring an impressive 15 league goals combined so far this season, which has helped mask the side's defensive deficiencies earlier in the campaign.

However, Laurey will be delighted with the fact that in each of his side's last four wins - which have come in the last seven matches - Strasbourg have simultaneously kept a clean sheet. Their superiority when beating bottom-placed Nimes in the first match following the winter break was clear to see, but the narrow victory at Lens last weekend was perhaps more impressive as it required grit and determination.

Diallo's 21st-minute strike meant that Lens dominated possession thereafter, retaining 66% of the ball across the 90 minutes, but the hosts only mustered two shots on target, with Strasbourg's defensive shape and organisation clearly a cut above the opening weeks of the campaign. As such, they will feel confident of shutting out a St Etienne side which is only scoring around one goal per game on average this season.

Former Southampton and Leicester City manager Claude Puel, meanwhile, appears to have ridden out the storm he found himself embroiled in at St Etienne after his side failed to win 11 consecutive matches.

Having been 17th at the time all French football was curtailed due to the coronavirus pandemic last season, Puel appeared to be putting his previous failures behind him with three consecutive wins opening this campaign on a positive note. However, Les Verts gradually slid down the table as each week passed with no win on the board.

St Etienne are certainly not away from danger yet, sitting a point behind forthcoming opponents Strasbourg in the table, but recent draws against Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco are clear evidence that they are a much tougher side to beat than both last season and during their recent winless run.

However, the nature of last weekend's defeat at Reims would have been a major concern to the 59-year-old, as a lack of a consistent goalscorer on his club's books will continue to be, with Romain Hamouma currently St Etienne's top league goalscorer with only four goals.

Strasbourg Ligue 1 form: DWLLWW

Saint-Etienne Ligue 1 form: DWDDDL


Team News

Strasbourg are likely to be without Matz Sels, Lebo Mothiba, Idriss Saadi, Lamine Kone and Bingourou Kamara due to injury.

Mohamed Simakan, meanwhile, is definitely ruled out due to a knee injury, with the young defender likely to be out of action until at least March.

St Etienne have their own long-term absentees in the shape of Yvann Macon and Stephane Ruffier, who are ruled out for the rest of the season.

Timothee Kolodziejczak, Yvan Neyou, Wahbi Khazri and Gabriel Silva are unlikely to travel to Strasbourg due to injury.

Strasbourg possible starting lineup:
Kawashima; Lala, Mitrovic, Djiku, Cacu; Sissoko, Aholou; Diallo, Thomasson, Bellegarde; Ajorque

Saint-Etienne possible starting lineup:
Moulin; Debuchy, Moukoudi, Retsos, Trauco; Nordin, Camara, Youssouf, Aouchiche; Boudebouz, Bouanga


We say: Strasbourg 2-1 Saint-Etienne

We can envisage a tight encounter between two sides looking to move clearer of the relegation zone, but Strasbourg's greater goal threats may prove the difference between the two sides.

Diallo and Ajorque's goal tally combined represents 75% of St Etienne's overall goals scored column this season, so if they are firing they can prove the match-winners on the day.


Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or draw in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home/Draw:data



body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__430629 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-06-05 12:40:47:
html db last update - 2024-06-05 12:40:47 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
European roundup: Pochettino's PSG held while Juve beat Milan
Nine clubs represented: Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week
Yoro injury confirmed: Will Man United defender miss Real Sociedad clash?
Sunday's Ligue 1 predictions including Nice vs. Lyon
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Paris Saint-GermainPSG25205070244665
2Marseille25154652302249
3Nice25137549301946
4MonacoMonaco25135749321744
5Lille25128540271344
6Lyon25126746311542
7StrasbourgStrasbourg2511773932740
8Lens2510693029136
9Brest25113113840-236
10Toulouse259793227534
11Auxerre2587103638-231
12Rennes2592143536-129
13Angers2576122640-1427
14NantesNantes2559112843-1524
15Reims2557132640-1422
16Le HavreLe Havre2563162451-2721
17Saint-EtienneSt Etienne2555152557-3220
18Montpellier HSCMontpellier2543182159-3815
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Tuesday's Champions League predictions including Liverpool vs. PSG

1

TC

Preview: Spurs vs. AZ - prediction, team news, lineups

2

PS

Nine clubs represented: Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week

NEW

3

NC

Preview: Boston Celtics vs. Oklahoma City Thunder - prediction, team news, form guide

4

PB

Tuesday's Championship predictions including Burnley vs. West Brom

5

TC

Slot provides Gakpo injury update before PSG fixture

6

SP

Preview: Arsenal vs. PSV - prediction, team news, lineups

7

PA

Ratcliffe slams "overpaid" and "not good enough" Man United players

8

RS

Ratcliffe admits Ten Hag "error" as he delivers Amorim verdict

9

RA

Preview: Atletico vs. Real Madrid - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PA


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .