MX23RW : Tuesday, February 16 06:39:04| >> :600:227337:227337:
Jan 24, 2021 at 2pm UK at Stade Gaston Gérard
DijonDijon
1-1
StrasbourgStrasbourg
Coulibaly (63')
Muzinga (54')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Ajorque (51')

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

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Ligue 1 clash between Dijon and Strasbourg, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Dijon's 200th Ligue 1 match sees them face Strasbourg on Sunday, with the home side hoping to extend their unbeaten run in the top-flight to four matches.

Meanwhile, the visitors are one of the league's most improved sides in recent weeks and will be looking for their fifth away victory of the campaign.


Match preview

Dijon's Mama Balde in action in October 2020© Reuters

Dijon's bottom-of-the-table clash away at Lorient was postponed last weekend as the hosts had more than 10 first-team players absent due to a coronavirus outbreak at the club.

After victory against Nimes and two goalless draws against Reims and Marseille, manager David Linares will be hoping that a week's delay will not prevent his side from taking their momentum into the match with Strasbourg as they aim to climb out of the relegation zone.

Linares, who spent five years with the club as a player between 2005 and 2010, has a huge task ahead of him in guiding Dijon to safety. However, since taking charge in early November, he has seen his side pick up 11 points from a possible 30 available, losing only two of their last seven league matches.

This run has moved Les Hiboux off the foot of the table and within four points of Nantes, who sit just outside the drop zone, giving Linares belief that they can survive this campaign.

However, they need to improve their home form if they are to escape from danger. Dijon are winless in their last 10 league matches at the Stade Gaston Gerard and have not scored in their last six Ligue 1 home games. Failing to find the net again on Sunday would equal the longest run without a home goal in French top-flight history, previously set by Bastia, Grenoble, St Etienne and this weekend's opponents Strasbourg.

No victories on home soil is a real concern for Dijon but breaking that duck this weekend would be a massive boost for Linares's side and could move them within one point of safety.

Strasbourg manager Thierry Laurey pictured in February 2020© Reuters

Strasbourg seem to be finding their groove as they secured their seventh league victory of the campaign with a 1-0 win over St Etienne last weekend courtesy of a first-half strike from Ludovic Ajorque.

Since the turn of the year, Thierry Laurey's side have taken a maximum nine points from three matches, keeping three clean sheets in the process.

Les Coureurs have also managed five wins in their last seven outings against sides below the top four, which is a further sign of their progress.

One of the standout positives from this season has been the strike partnership of Ajorque and Habib Diallo, who have scored a combined 16 goals, with the former netting nine of those strikes.

Strasbourg are unbeaten in their last three visits to Dijon, but Laurey will be wary of the home side's upturn in form and will not take their opponents lightly this weekend.

Victory on Sunday would move Strasbourg up one place to 12th in the table, 11 points clear of the relegation zone, if Brest were to lose away to Reims.

Dijon Ligue 1 form: DLLWDD

Strasbourg Ligue 1 form: WLLWWW


Team News

Marseille's Maxime Lopez in action with Strasbourg's Anthony Caci in October 2019© Reuters

Dijon forward Roger Assale is expected to remain out for another couple of weeks as he is still recovering from a calf injury, while left-back Anibal Chala is a doubt with a groin problem.

Linares is unlikely to make many changes from the side that drew with Marseille a fortnight ago.

Impressive performances from centre-back Senou Coulibaly are likely to see him keep his place in the starting lineup ahead of Englishman Jonathan Panzo.

Strasbourg will be without Matz Sels (Achillies tendon rupture), Idriss Saadi (groin), Bingourou Kamara (knee), Lamine Kone (foot) and Mohamed Simakan (knee) due to injury.

Laurey is set to continue with the flexible 4-1-3-2 formation, which has worked wonders in recent weeks.

Dijon possible starting lineup:
Racioppi; Boey, Manga, Coulibaly, Muzinga; Ebimbe, Ndong, Cheikh, Celina; Balde; Konate

Strasbourg possible starting lineup:
Kawashima; Lala, Mitrovic, Djiku, Caci; Aholou; Sissoko, Thomasson, Bellegarde; Diallo, Ajorque


SM words green background

We say: Dijon 0-1 Strasbourg

Despite Dijon improving their defensive solidity in recent weeks, they have yet to face the potent attacking duo of Ajorque and Diallo; the pair's presence could give Strasbourg the edge in securing their fourth successive league victory on Sunday.


Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a draw or an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Draw/Away:data


ID:431712:cQx

How you voted: Dijon vs Strasbourg

Dijon
23.7%
Draw
13.2%
Strasbourg
63.2%
38
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Lille25167242152755
2Paris Saint-GermainPSG25173557154254
3Lyon25157351222952
4MonacoMonaco25154652371549
5Rennes2410863126538
6Lens2510783534137
7Metz259882924535
8Montpellier HSCMontpellier25105104145-435
9Marseille239772926334
10Angers25104113040-1034
11Bordeaux2596102729-233
12Brest2594123744-731
13Reims2578103133-229
14Nice2485112833-529
15Saint-EtienneSt Etienne2578102536-1129
16StrasbourgStrasbourg2584133440-628
17Lorient2465133045-1523
18NantesNantes25410112540-1522
19Nimes2453162251-2918
20Dijon2529141738-2115

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