Conference League Preview: Racing face Brøndby
After a fine performance in last season's run-in, RC Strasbourg are ready to start their European campaign against Danish side Brøndby -- get the latest on the first leg in our preview.
Rosenior's young side ready to shine despite absences
As the Alsatians get set to play their first match of the season at a remodeled La Meinau, manager Liam Rosenior will have to contend with several absences, including Diego Moreira, Guela Doué and Lucas Høgsberg, the young Danish international not set to be part of the back three. He will, however, find his side reinforced with the return of Ismaël Doukouré, who yesterday signed an extension through 2028, tying his future to the club amid rampant speculation over a potential departure.
"To play a European match in front of our fans is something special"
Hear from Coach and Sam ahead of #RCSABIF pic.twitter.com/DAlkwBw06X— Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace English (@RCSA_English) August 20, 2025
A familiar foe for Ligue 1
Brøndby will hardly be an obliging opponent, based on not only their recent history and players with experience in the French top flight but also their dramatic turnaround in the previous round. Having lost the first leg against Víkingur Reykjavík 3-0, despite going down to ten men just eighteen minutes into the match, they ran out 4-0 winners to advance against heavy odds. Lining up in a three-man defence with a side that's likely to include former Ligue 1 players Daniel Wass and Patrick Pentz, Rosenior remakerked that he sees shades of his own side in a team that similarly plays expansive football with three at the back, saying, "They resemble us a lot -- we expect a very open match."
Predicted lineups:
RC Strasbourg (3-5-2): Penders; Doukouré, Sarr, Omobamidele; Bakwa, Oyedele (or Barco), Nanasi, Lemaréchal, Samuels-Smith; Emegha, Mara (or Panichelli)
Brøndby (3-4-3): Pentz; Klaiber, Lautrisen, Blinks; Divlconivic; Wass, Tahirinovic, Köhlert; Martey, Bundgaard, Vallys
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