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

Nantes will look to end a three-match losing run in Ligue 1 when they travel to Stade de la Meinau on Sunday to face Strasbourg.

Les Coureurs scored with eight minutes remaining to salvage a point against Nimes in their last outing, while Nantes fell to a 2-1 defeat to Lyon last Sunday.

Match preview

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Currently sitting in 14th place, Strasbourg are in a comfortable position with five games remaining this season.

However, Thierry Laurey knows his team is not out of the woods just yet as they have 37 points which is only six points above Nimes in the relegation playoff zone.

Strasbourg have failed to perform at home lately, losing their last two games at Stade de la Meinau and winning only once in their previous seven games there in all competitions.

This season, Strasbourg have relied on long balls from the back, playing the highest percentage of long passes among Ligue 1 teams.

Nantes have been a part of Ligue 1 for seven consecutive seasons, but it will take some doing if they are to make it eight.

Antoine Kombouare began his career as a player with La Maison Jaune and would savour a victory against the side that gave him his start as a Ligue 1 manager.

At the moment, Nantes have just 28 points from 33 Ligue 1 matches - their lowest tally ever at this stage of the competition.

With four wins in their last seven Ligue 1 fixtures against Strasbourg, however, they will be confident they can close the gap between themselves and a ticket out of the relegation zone, which at the moment is four points.

Lately, La Maison Jaune have struggled to keep the ball out of their net, conceding at least one goal in each of their previous 15 Ligue 1 games.

If they give up another one on Sunday, that will set a club record for the longest such run in the top flight.

Team News

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Strasbourg have conceded 10 goals in their last five games without centre-back Mohamed Simakan, who is out with a knee injury.

Right-back Frederic Guilbert will miss this match through suspension after being dismissed two minutes into the second half against Nimes.

Leading goalscorer Ludovic Ajorque is without a goal in his last two games but has still scored 12 times this season - a career-high for him in Ligue 1.

If Nantes are to remain in Ligue 1, their top goalscorer Ludovic Blas needs to get going, having scored only one goal in his last six games.

They have been improving defensively of late, with defender Nicolas Pallois and defensive midfielder Abdoulaye Toure scoring the last two goals for this team.

Strasbourg possible starting lineup:
Sels; Caci, Djiku, Mitrovic, Carole; Aholou; Lienard, Sissoko; Thomasson; Ajorque, Diallo

Nantes possible starting lineup:
Lafont; Fabio, Castelletto, Pallois, Traore; Chirivella, Louza; Toure, Blas, Simon; Coulibaly

We say: Strasbourg 1-0 Nantes

Strasbourg have won their last three Ligue 1 games against Nantes, including a 4-0 win back in December, and even though Les Coureurs are not great at home, Nantes are far too inconsistent at the back.