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

While the hosts have not won on home soil since August, the visitors are looking to claim their third consecutive away victory.

Match preview

Troyes have been struck down by second-season syndrome and they will be plying their trade in Ligue 2 next season after suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat away against Rennes last weekend, extending their winless league run to 18 matches.

ESTAC knew that a victory was required to fight off the drop for at least one more week, but they ultimately struggled to cope with Rennes' attacking threat and their fate was sealed after a 14th-minute opener from Arthur Theate was followed by three second-half goals conceded in the space of nine minutes.

Troyes, who sit 19th in the table, have now suffered relegation in six of their 11 Ligue 1 seasons, the highest ratio of any club that has played at least 10 campaigns in the top flight, and head coach Patrick Kisnorbo has acknowledged that he already has one eye on preparations for next season.

The Grand Est-based outfit enter Sunday's encounter having not won a Ligue 1 match since beating Strasbourg 3-2 in the reverse fixture on January 2; ESTAC have never recorded back-to-back top-flight victories over the Racers in their history.

Securing maximum points on Sunday could prove challenging, though, as Troyes have failed to win any of their last 15 Ligue 1 home matches, the longest ongoing run across Europe's top-five league.

Strasbourg's positive run of form continued last weekend as they boosted their hopes of survival with a 2-0 home victory over Nice.

Habib Diallo increased his Ligue 1 goal tally for the season to 20 after finding the net either side of half time, with a 40-second opener followed by a converted penalty kick just before the hour mark.

Frederic Antonetti's men have now won four of their last five league games, as many as in their previous 14 matches, and they have climbed up to 14th in the table, five points above the bottom four with three games remaining.

Strasbourg know that a victory over Troyes could be enough to guarantee their top-flight survival if 17th-placed Nantes fail to beat Montpellier on home soil on Saturday.

The Racers head into Sunday's fixture having failed to win any of their last three visits to the Stade de l'Aube, while they have only won four of their 17 Ligue 1 away games this season. However, they have won their last two matches on the road without reply, beating Reims and Nantes by a 2-0 scoreline.

Troyes Ligue 1 form:

L

L

D

L

L

L

Strasbourg Ligue 1 form:

L

W

W

L

W

W

Team News

Troyes will have to cope without top scorer Mama Balde due to suspension, while Renaud Ripart and Florian Tardieu are both sidelined with Achilles injuries.

Kisnorbo has revealed that he will provide some of the club's youth players with game time in the final three fixtures of the season, so the likes of Rudy Kohon, Ryan Fage and Derek Mazou-Sacko could all be considered for selection on Sunday.

However, centre-back Tanguy Zoukrou and winger Wilson Odobert are not available as they are preparing to represent France at the Under-20 World Cup.

As for Strasbourg, Eduard Sobol, Gerzino Nyamsi and Eiji Kawashima are all set to remain sidelined through injury, but Alexander Djiku is available after serving a suspension and the centre-back is expected to be recalled to the first XI at the expense of either Lucas Perrin or Ismael Doukoure.

The rest of Antonetti's team is set to remain intact, with central striker Diallo receiving support in attack from Habib Diarra and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde.

Troyes possible starting lineup:

Gallon; Kohon, Rami, Palmer-Brown; Bruus, Mazou-Sacko, Chavalerin, Larouci; Fage, Lopes; Ugbo

Strasbourg possible starting lineup:

Sels; Perrin, Djiku, Le Marchand; Dagba, Sissoko, Sanson, Guilbert; Diarra, Bellegarde; Diallo

We say: Troyes 1-3 Strasbourg

Troyes will be keen to avoid bowing out of the top flight on a whimper and will hope to secure at least one victory from their final two home games to give their supporters something to cheer about.

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