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

With the visitors now comfortably safe from relegation, this game has become a dead rubber, with both having nothing left to play for.

Match preview

After a fantastic first half of the season, Lorient fell off dramatically in the second half, dropping a long way away from the European places.

With a mid-table finish having been secured for a while, Lorient's form has been underwhelming, winning just two of their last 10 matches.

Their recent results at the Stade du Moustoir have been disappointing too, losing three of their last six games here.

Despite their slide down the table, Regis Le Bris's side can confirm a top-half finish for the first time in nine years with a win in this one though.

Even if Lorient fail to win, a 10th-placed finish will still be guaranteed as long as they better or match Reims' result against Montpellier.

Strasbourg's season has played out in reverse to that of Lorient's, given a woeful start left them in relegation trouble for large periods of the season.

After almost getting Strasbourg into Europe last season, Julien Stephan had a disastrous start to the season which saw him sacked.

Frederic Antonetti was brought in and has steered the club towards Ligue 1 survival, despite them spending a lot of the season in the bottom four.

Heading into the final day, Strasbourg are seven points clear of the drop zone having sealed survival weeks ago, with 14 points from their last seven games playing a big part in that.

A four-game unbeaten run means Strasbourg have the opportunity to finish the season strongly here, and despite being five places and 12 points below their upcoming opponents, they are the favourites for this clash.

Lorient Ligue 1 form:

L

W

W

D

L

L

Strasbourg Ligue 1 form:

W

L

W

W

D

D

Team News

Lorient will be without Igor Silva and keeper Vito Mannone for their season finale here.

Yvon Mvogo's return from injury in mid-April was timely as it coincided with when Mannone picked up the foot injury that has ended his season.

Montassir Talbi has played every minute for Lorient this season, and remains the only outfielder to have done so in Ligue 1 this season.

Talbi will become the first Lorient player to play every minute in a single campaign for 15 years should he complete the full 90 here.

Strasbourg have no new injury concerns heading into this one, with Eiji Kawashima and Nordine Kandil both still out.

Alexander Djiku will return from suspension after he missed the draw with Paris Saint-Germain last weekend, following a red card against Troyes.

Habib Diallo could feature in his 150th Ligue 1 game here, and while at Strasbourg, he has scored four goals in his four appearances against Lorient.

Of the sides outside the top seven, only Montpellier have scored more goals than Strasbourg, and much of that is down to Diallo, who has scored 20 of their 50 goals this season.

Lorient possible starting lineup:

Mvogo; Talbi, Laporte, Le Goff; Kalulu, Abergel, Makengo, Yongwa; Faivre, Kone, Le Fee

Strasbourg possible starting lineup:

Sels; Doukoure, Nyamsi, Perrin, Djiku, Guilbert; Diarra, Sissoko, Sanson, Bellegarde; Diallo

We say: Lorient 2-2 Strasbourg

With both sides only playing for pride, the two could take their foot off the pedal and play with more freedom here.

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