ligue1-logo
News

Preview: Strasbourg and Lyon battle for Europe

After an action-packed international break, Ligue 1 McDonald's is back, and is ready to start the run-in with a weekend full of important matches. We'll have derbies in the Nord and on the Côte d'Azur, but another key game is set to take place tonight in Strasbourg between a pair of ambitious young sides in the hosts and Olympique Lyonnais. Currently seventh, the Alsatians could leapfrog Lyon with a win, ending the weekend as high as fifth -- read on for our preview of the match.
E. DEVIN
Published on 03/28/2025 at 09:00
2-minute read
Sebastian Nanasi and Andrey Santos have been key elements of Strasbourg's midfield

Bakwa returns and a re-worked defence

Key for the hosts will be the return of Dilane Bakwa on the left wing. Racing's most consistently creative player, he has accumulated seven assists this season, despite missing a large chunk of the season due to injury. Suspended in the team's win over Toulouse before the break, his return will add a creative impetus to the team. 

But while Bakwa will be a welcome return, manager Liam Rosenior will likely be without a key part of his defence after another of his French U-21 stars, Ismaël Doukouré, was forced off injured with a hamstring issue over the break. With Abakar Sylla and Guéla Doué both options to play centrally alongside youngster Mamadou Sarr, Rosenior could change his tactics with an eye towards keeping things tight in a defence that has conceded just once in its previous six matches. 

Almada, MIKAUTADZE look to continue top form

While few players from Strasbourg were in action over the break, that was hardly the case for Lyon, as the likes of Tanner Tessmann, Nicolás Tagliafico and Lucas Perri all traveled across the Atlantic to take part in CONMEBOL and CONCACAF competition. But the player who made the biggest impact was Thiago Almada who started both of Argentina's matches and scored a fine winner against Uruguay. With he and Georgian striker Georges Mikautadze (four goals over the break) in top form, Lyon's attacking prowess will put the hosts to the test, even if some of the players returning from international duty may only be on the bench as a precaution.

Predicted lineups:

RC Strasbourg (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Doué, Sarr, Sylla (or Doukouré), Moreira; Santos, Barco; Bakwa, Lemaréchal, Nanasi; Emegha

Olympique Lyonnais (4-2-3-1): Perri; Maitland-Niles, Mata, Niakhaté, Tagliafico (or Abner); Matic, Tessmann; Cherki, Tolisso, Nuamah (or Almada); Mikautadze (or Lacazette)

Read more:

>> Happy Birthday Steve Mandanda

>> RC Strasbourg: The Fastest Team in France

ligue1-logo
Squads overview