Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Friendly Games
Nigeria

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

sportsmole.co.uk, 15 December 2023, 06:36
In their final home fixture this year, Lorient host Strasbourg at Stade du Moustoir on Sunday, looking to end a six-match winless run in Ligue 1.

Les Merlus are a point back of Toulouse and a guaranteed place in the top-flight next season, having lost their previous encounter 4-2 versus Marseille, while Le Racing have dug themselves out of relegation danger, moving up to 10th with a 2-1 triumph over Le Havre.

Match preview

The seasonal change from summer to fall has taken a toll on Lorient, who have won just one of their dozen top-flight encounters since the beginning of September.

After beginning the season positively, unbeaten in their opening three Ligue 1 affairs, it has only been downhill for the club from Brittany, who have conceded more goals than anyone in the top-flight (29).

Lorient find themselves in a precarious position at the moment, separated by a mere three points from Rennes in 13th, though Lyon, currently at the bottom of the standings heading into matchday 15, trail Les Merlus by only two points.

To this point of the domestic campaign, Lorient have won just two fixtures, tied with the 1998-99 team for the fewest victories after 15 league games in the top flight and six fewer than they managed at this same stage a season ago.

With two consecutive defeats at Stade du Moustoir, it is as many losses as Regis Le Bris's men suffered in their previous nine domestic home outings.

Since their promotion into Ligue 1 in 2020, Le FCL have lost just one of their six games versus Strasbourg in this competition (4-0 at Stade de la Meinau in 2021-22).

The previous week felt like a rebirth for the side from Alsace, who have picked themselves up off the canvas with four points in their last two domestic affairs.

At the beginning of December, Patrick Vieira's men were flirting with relegation, but in the span of a few days, their fortunes have changed, with Strasbourg currently in the top half of the table thanks to a pair of positive results.

Their victory last Sunday ended an eight-match winless run for them in this competition, with Le RCS netting multiple times in a domestic affair for just the fourth time this season.

They enter this contest without a victory in four successive Ligue 1 fixtures away from home, though Strasbourg have points in two of their previous three domestic road contests.

While a winning goal deep into stoppage time won them the match against Le Havre, Strasbourg were able to score in the opening half for just the second time over this domestic campaign.

Over half of their goals scored in Ligue 1 this season (8/14) have come in the 75th minute or beyond, including two in stoppage time.

Lorient Ligue 1 form:

L

D

L

L

D

L

Strasbourg Ligue 1 form:

D

D

D

L

D

W

Advert - content below:

Team News

Quentin Boisgard and Dembo Sylla are doubtful for Lorient this weekend due to foot sprains, while Loris Mouyokolo is dealing with a sore groin.

Ayman Kari is unlikely to see the field on Sunday because of an issue with his ankle, Igor Silva has a muscle strain and Tiemoue Bakayoko will not be available due to a thigh injury.

Goals from Romain Faivre and Benjamin Mendy last Sunday were ultimately in vain, as Yvon Mvogo has conceded seven goals in his previous two home fixtures.

Maxime Bastian remains unavailable for Strasbourg with a muscle strain, Gerzino Nyamsi has a sore knee and Ismael Doukoure is out because of an ankle injury.

Emanuel Emegha notched his team-leading fourth of the campaign a week ago before Abakar Sylla scored a dramatic winner with 96 minutes and 17 seconds played, the latest goal in Ligue 1 this season.

After scoring at least 10 goals in his first two seasons back with Le Racing, Kevin Gameiro has only found the back of the net once in 2023-24, scoring in their 2-1 defeat at Reims.

Lorient possible starting lineup:

Mvogo; Kalulu, Laporte, Talbi, Yongwa; Innocent, Abergel; Faivre, Ponceau, B. Mendy; Kroupi

Strasbourg possible starting lineup:

Sels; Senaya, Perrin, Sylla, Delaine; Sissoko, Mwanga; Diarra, Sahi, Deminguet; Emegha

We say: Lorient 1-2 Strasbourg

As we near the end of 2023, Strasbourg appear to be finding their form, and we expect them to put away at least a couple of their opportunities against a Lorient side who have been poor defensively throughout the campaign.

Previews by email

Top News

12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly been handed a major boost in their efforts to keep one of their fundamental cogs at the club during the summer transfer window. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly taken the decision to cancel their end-of-season awards dinner as their troubled 2023-24 campaign comes to a close. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Clermont's three-year stay in Ligue 1 has come to an end, as Les Lanciers were officially relegated from the French top flight courtesy of a 1-0 defeat at home to Lyon on Sunday night. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Mikel Arteta's Arsenal side set a pair of club records with their crucial 1-0 win over Manchester United in Sunday's Premier League main event. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane is hopeful that Red Devils head coach Erik ten Hag is "given more time" at Old Trafford amid the ongoing speculation surrounding his future. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United's record goalscorer Wayne Rooney has claimed that some of the club's players currently on the sidelines through injury would be able to take to the field. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has revealed that he was forced to pull Bruno Fernandes out of the starting side against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon "in the last moment". 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona will be aiming to return to winning ways in La Liga when they host Real Sociedad on Monday night. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Capable of confirming Champions League qualification with maximum points, Aston Villa host third-placed Liverpool in Monday's Premier League battle at Villa Park. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are apparently preparing to rival Manchester City for the services of one of the jewels in the Crystal Palace crown this summer. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola has been dealt a fresh defensive concern ahead of Tuesday's Premier League contest with Tottenham Hotspur in North London. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur's list of season-ending injuries has stretched from six to seven ahead of Tuesday's Premier League encounter against title-chasing Manchester City in North London. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Supported by both halves of North London - albeit only for a matter of hours - Tottenham Hotspur can lend bitter rivals Arsenal a helping hand when they host Manchester City in Tuesday's tantalising Premier League battle. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly earmarked the three priority areas for strengthening in this summer's transfer window. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid have reportedly set the wheels in motion to sign one of the stars of Bayer Leverkusen's marvellous 2023-24 season. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk David Datro Fofana has indicated that he would like to start next season at Chelsea, rather than go back out on loan. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal ensured that the 2023-24 Premier League title race will go down to the final day with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford this afternoon. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have returned to the top of the Premier League table after securing a slender 1-0 victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With their hopes of stealing the league crown hanging by a thread, Rangers will welcome an out-of-form Dundee side to Ibrox in their penultimate game of the Scottish Premiership season. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich are reportedly interested in signing Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton this summer. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Donny van de Beek's agent Guido Albers has confirmed that his client will be leaving Manchester United during this summer's transfer window, but a move to another Premier League club is not an option. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni is confident that he will be fit for the Champions League final. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona head coach Xavi refused to offer any guarantees over the future of Ansu Fati when questioned on the Spain international during his press conference on Sunday. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk For the final time in a Liverpool tracksuit, Jurgen Klopp will be barking orders from a rival Premier League touchline on Monday, when the Reds trek to the West Midlands to scrap with Aston Villa at Villa Park. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Feyenoord manager and incoming Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has provided an update on when Reds fans can expect an official announcement of his arrival at Anfield. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has insisted that his side have demonstrated their character on numerous occasions during a difficult season for the club. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool forward Luis Diaz has said that he is "very happy" at Anfield amid suggestions of a potential summer departure for the Colombia international. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The agent of Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski has insisted that the Poland international will remain at Camp Nou this summer, branding the speculation surrounding his future "fake news". 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are back in action on Wednesday evening when they square off against Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti will again make changes to his starting side for Tuesday's La Liga clash with Alaves at Bernabeu.
Wed 15 May, 17:30
PD
Sevilla Sevilla
-
sch
Cadiz Cadiz
Fri 17 May, 18:45
L2
Bordeaux Bordeaux
-
sch
Pau Pau