Ligue 1 | Gameweek 27

Mar 28, 2025 at 7.45pm UK

Stade de la Meinau

Strasbourg vs Lyon

Match preview

Only reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain can currently claim to be in better form than Strasbourg in Ligue 1, with Liam Rosenior's men picking up an impressive 29 points from their last 12 games.

PSG may be stealing some of their thunder, but the Alsatians remain one of the most in-form sides in Europe, built on a solid defensive platform.

Having kept five clean sheets in a row, Strasbourg would have been disappointed to concede a late consolation in their win over Toulouse just before the international break.

Nevertheless, Strasbourg have conceded just six goals since the start of December, four fewer than any other club in Europe's top five, and another clean sheet will see them go seven home games unbeaten in Ligue 1 for only the second time this century.

It is a run of form that has propelled Rosenior's side from mid-table obscurity to real Champions League contenders, as they now sit in seventh place, four points off fourth place, after taking just 14 points from their opening 14 games.

However, of their nine wins in their last 12 games, only two have come against teams currently in the top half of the table, and while you can only beat what is in front of you, there are still question marks over whether they can compete with the best in France.

Four of the current top five await them in their final eight games, starting with Lyon this weekend, and while they were in a commanding position in the reverse fixture, leading 3-1 at Groupama, they went on to lose 4-3.

A five-match winless run at home to Lyon was halted last season, but that came to an end on the opening day and the hosts could become the first team in Ligue 1 history to suffer a 50th defeat at the hands of OL.

Lyon have a history of success against their upcoming opponents, having scored in their last 28 league meetings - the longest such run by any club in more than 50 years.

Despite coach Paulo Fonseca being handed a nine-month touchline ban earlier this month for his behaviour towards a match official, their performances on the pitch have not suffered.

The match in which Fonseca was banned ended in victory against Brest, and Lyon went on to win their next four matches, beating FCSB 7-1 at home and away in the Europa League, as well as scoring six goals away at Nice and at home to Le Havre.

With seven wins in their last eight matches in all competitions, PSG are the only team to have stopped them in their tracks of late, and that has moved them up to fifth in the table, just two points off the Champions League places.

Recent Performance

Strasbourg Ligue 1 form:WWDWWW

Lyon Ligue 1 form:WWLWWW

Lyon form (all competitions):LWWWWW

Team News

Dilane Bakwa will be available for Strasbourg after serving a suspension in the win over Toulouse, and he has been busy representing France U21s during the international break.

Injury concerns remain, however, with Habib Diarra, Andrew Omobamidele, Abdoul Ouattara and Dion Sahi all set to miss out.

Chelsea loanee Andrey Santos has been in fine form this season, scoring from midfield in eight Ligue 1 games so far, seven of which have been victories, with the exception of the 4-3 reverse fixture defeat to Lyon.

Lyon will be without defender Sael Kumbedi, who is suspended, while youngster Malick Fofana was ruled out of the Belgium squad last week and remains a doubt.

Georges Mikautadze was present for Georgia, however, and continued his sensational recent form which has seen him score seven goals and provide five assists in his last 245 minutes.

Rayan Cherki, however, stole the headlines during the break with a scintillating display against England U21s, scoring a goal and providing two assists to add to his 13 goals in his last nine appearances for Lyon.

Possible starting lineup

Strasbourg possible starting lineup:

Petrovic; Doue, Sarr, Doukoure, Barco; Andrey Santos, Lemarechal; Bakwa, Nanasi, Diego Moreira; Emegha

Lyon possible starting lineup:

Lucas Perri; Maitland-Niles, Clinton Mata, Niakhate, Tagliafico; Matic, Tolisso; Almada, Cherki, Mikautadze; Lacazette