Strasbourg-Lyon is a match of the thirty-third day of Ligue 1 and is played Friday at 9 pm: statistics, probable formations, predictions.
This season Strasbourg had never managed to win two games in a row: the first “double” came last Sunday thanks to an extraordinary performance at home to Reims, Ligue 1’s eighth-strongest side, downed 2-0. Three points that, if added to those obtained the previous week in the direct clash with Ajaccio, become six. And which allowed the Alsatians to move out of the relegation zone.
Frederic Antonetti’s team now has 32 points, the same as Nantes and Brest but compared to them for the moment it boasts a better goal difference. In Ligue, where from this year there are four teams relegating to the lower division instead of three-from next season the number will be reduced from 20 to 18-three places seem to be already assigned. Troyes, Ajaccio and Angers have ten points less than fourth-last-place Brest and are already with one and a half feet in Ligue 2. It is therefore a four-way race to maintain the category, and in this small group there is obviously also Strasbourg, which in the 33rd day advance goes in search of its third consecutive victory. Against fearsome Lyon, already beaten in the first leg – at Groupama Stadium it ended 1-2 – Antonetti will again rely on his 17-goal striker in the season, Habib Diallo, author of a double against Reims.
New stop for Lyon
The Gones come from a defeat that to call frustrating is an understatement: last Sunday they lost 2-1 to Marseille due to a mocking own goal in full recovery by Malo Gusto, the young full-back who was bought by Chelsea last January.
Gusto
A setback that prevents Laurent Blanc’s men from extending their winning streak – Lyon were coming off three wins – but more importantly, from nibbling more points against Lille, the team they are racing to avoid being left out of Europe. Eliminated from the Coupe de France, Lyon has only one road back to continental competition: that of the league. But the points to make up on fifth place, after the knockout with Marseille, have become six. They have no other results at their disposal in Alsace, where they have won eight times in their last 11 away matches.
The Prediction
Lyon have lost only one of their last away matches, and despite the strong disappointment caused by the defeat to Marseille, they should be able to get a positive result in Strasbourg, against a team that will be in good shape in any case. The total goals should be at least two in this interesting Ligue 1 advance.
The likely lineups for Strasbourg-Lyon
- STRASBOURG (3-4-2-1): Sels; Perrin, Djiku, Doukouré; Guilbert, Bellegarde, Liénard, Delaine; Diarra, Sanson; Diallo.
- LIONE (4-3-1-2): Lopes; Kumbedi, Lovren, Lukeba, Tagliafico; Caqueret, Tolisso, Lepenant; Cherki; Lacazette, Barcola.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-2
