Angers and Strasbourg face off in the penultimate Ligue 1 fixture at Stade Raymond Kopa with much on the line.
The hosts' top-flight status for next season is not assured, while Le Racing's incredible 2024-25 journey may still end with Champions League qualification for the first time since the old European Cup in the 1979-80 season.
Match preview
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After returning to Ligue 1 this season following a year away, Angers' ambition was to avoid immediate relegation.
That aspiration is close to being realised, given Le SCO are 14th in the competition with 33 points, two clear of 16th-placed Le Havre in the relegation playoff spot and six clear of second-bottom Saint-Etienne.
While Alexandre Dujeux's team can no longer suffer direct relegation, the threat of slipping into the relegation playoff spot remains, an outcome that could occur this weekend if they lose and Nantes beat Auxerre while Le Havre stun second-placed Marseille.
Although the results of the two clubs directly below them could leave Les Scoistes' supporters entering the concluding round nervously, an Angers victory will almost secure Ligue 1 participation next season.
However, that outcome hinges on Dujeux's team securing just their third victory over a top-half team this term, having suffered 12 losses and drawn two of 14 previous encounters against such opponents.
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Strasbourg enter their final away fixture keen to prevent Angers from adding to their meagre eight points against top-half opponents, bolstering their aspiration to play Champions League football for the first time under the current format.
Liam Rosenior's troops currently occupy sixth place, guaranteeing participation in the Conference League playoff round; however, Le Racing could still finish as high as second this term.
Strasbourg approach gameweek 33 just two points behind Marseille in second place, one adrift of Monaco, and level on 57 points with Nice and Lille, highlighting the jeopardy of the final two fixtures for the Champions League-chasing clubs.
Nevertheless, the away supporters will back their players to secure a fourth consecutive win away at Angers, continuing an outstanding 12-match unbeaten streak comprising nine victories.
With 40 points accrued in 2025, a tally surpassing every Ligue 1 club, Rosenior's men have accumulated as many points as Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich (40), one fewer than LaLiga favourites Barcelona (41) and three shy of in-form Roma (43), underscoring Le RCS' stunning results since the turn of the year.
Securing their 13th victory of 2025 could see the sixth-placed club finish the weekend in a Champions League spot ahead of a final home game against relegation-threatened Le Havre, something the BlueCo-led outfit would have welcomed before a ball was kicked this term.
Team News
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Sidiki Cherif (thigh) is expected to miss out for Angers, who will assess Ahmadou Bamba Dieng, Emmanuel Biumla, Haris Belkebla and Pierrick Capelle before Saturday's encounter.
Esteban Lepaul (seven goals) and Himad Abdelli (six) have scored 13 of the home side's 30 Ligue 1 strikes, accounting for 43.3% of the division's second-lowest scorers' return, thus highlighting their reliance on both attackers.
While Strasbourg are relatively injury-free, the Champions League-chasing side are without the injured Dion Sahi and suspended Andrew Omobamidele.
No player on the away side has netted more than Emanuel Emegha's 14, and the forward, whose seven match-winning goals rank higher than anyone in Ligue 1, aims to add to his tally this weekend.
Only four players have netted more than Emegha's seven away goals this term — Ousmane Dembele (10), Mason Greenwood, Jonathan David and Arnaud Kalimuendo (all on eight) — underlining the Strasbourg forward's dependability both home and away.
Angers possible starting lineup:
Fofana; Arcus, Lefort, Bamba, Hanin; Courcoul, Belkhdim; Ferhat, Abdelli, Raolisoa; Lepaul
Strasbourg possible starting lineup:
Petrovic; Doue, Doukoure, Sarr; Bakwa, Santos, Barco, Moreira; Lemarechal, Diarra; Emegha
We say: Angers 0-1 Strasbourg
Despite their desire to possibly confirm Ligue 1 involvement by securing a positive result this weekend, Angers losing five of their previous six on home soil, failing to score in all defeats, will not fill supporters with optimism.
Conversely, Strasbourg have won four of their last five away fixtures (one draw), keeping clean sheets during that run, and they should secure a narrow triumph in Western France this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
