Preview: Dijon vs. Strasbourg - prediction, team news, lineups

Dijon 's 200th Ligue 1 match sees them face Strasbourg on Sunday, with the home side hoping to extend their unbeaten run in the top-flight to four matches.

Meanwhile, the visitors are one of the league's most improved sides in recent weeks and will be looking for their fifth away victory of the campaign.

Match preview

© Reuters

Dijon's bottom-of-the-table clash away at Lorient was postponed last weekend, as the hosts had more than 10 first-team players absent due to a coronavirus outbreak at the club.

After victory against Nimes and two goalless draws against Reims and Marseille, manager David Linares will be hoping that a week's delay will not prevent his side from taking their momentum into the match with Strasbourg as they aim to climb out of the relegation zone.

Linares, who spent five years with the club as a player between 2005 and 2010, has a huge task ahead of him in guiding Dijon to safety. However, since taking charge in early November, he has seen his side pick up 11 points from a possible 30 available, losing only two of their last seven league matches.

This run has moved les hiboux off the foot of the table and within four points of Nantes who sit just outside the drop zone, giving Linares belief that they can survive this campaign.

However, they need to improve their home form if they are to escape from danger. Dijon are winless in their last 10 league matches at the Stade Gaston Gerard, failing to score in their last six Ligue 1 home games. Failing to find the net again on Sunday would equal the longest run without a home goal in French top-flight history, previously set by Bastia, Grenoble, St Etienne and this weekend's opponents Strasbourg.

No victories on home soil is a real concern for Dijon, but breaking that duck this weekend would be a massive boost for Linares's side and could move them within one point of safety.

© Reuters

Strasbourg seem to be finding their groove as they secured their seventh league victory of the campaign with a 1-0 win over St Etienne last weekend, thanks to a first half strike from Ludovic Ajorque.

Since the turn of the year, Thierry Laurey 's side have taken a maximum nine points from three matches, keeping three clean sheets in the process.

Les coureurs have also managed five wins in their last seven outings against sides below the top four, which is a further sign of their progress.

One of the standout positives from this season has been the strike partnership of Ajorque and Habib Diallo, who have scored a combined 16 goals, with the former netting nine of those strikes.

Strasbourg are unbeaten in their last three visits to Dijon, but Laurey will be wary of the home side's upturn in form and will not take their opponents lightly this weekend.

Victory on Sunday would move Strasbourg up one place to 12th in the table, 11 points clear of the relegation zone, if Brest were to lose away to Reims.

Dijon Ligue 1 form: DLLWDD

Strasbourg Ligue 1 form: WLLWWW

Team News

© Reuters

Dijon forward Roger Assale is expected to remain out for another couple of weeks as he is still recovering from a calf injury, while left-back Anibal Chala is a doubt with a groin problem.

David Linares is unlikely to make many changes from the side that drew with Marseille a fortnight ago.

Impressive performances from centre-back Senou Coulibaly are likely to see him keep his place in the starting lineup ahead of Englishman Jonathan Panzo.

Strasbourg will be without Matz Sels (Achillies tendon rupture), Idriss Saadi (groin), Bingourou Kamara (knee), Lamine Kone (foot) and Mohamed Simakan (knee) due to injury.

Laurey is set to continue with the flexible 4-1-3-2 formation, which has worked wonders in recent weeks.

Dijon possible starting lineup:

Racioppi; Boey, Manga, Coulibaly, Muzinga; Ebimbe, Ndong, Cheikh, Celina; Balde; Konate

Strasbourg possible starting lineup:

Kawashima; Lala, Mitrovic, Djiku, Caci; Aholou; Sissoko, Thomasson, Bellegarde; Diallo, Ajorque

We say: Dijon 0-1 Strasbourg

Despite Dijon improving their defensive solidity in recent weeks, they have yet to face the potent attacking duo of Ajorque and Diallo. The pair's presence could give Strasbourg the edge in securing their fourth successive league victory on Sunday.

Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a draw or an away win 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.