Strasbourg take on Reims in Ligue 1 on Sunday, with both sides having improved immeasurably since the winter break to move away from relegation trouble.
The two teams head into the match level on points, with Reims one position ahead in the table in 14th place by virtue of having a slightly better goal difference.
Match preview
© Reuters
Strasbourg returned from the winter break in some style by winning three successive matches without conceding a goal, with that run coming to an end with a 1-1 draw at Dijon last weekend.
Thierry Laurey will have been content enough to have avoided defeat, though, with 18th-placed Dijon kept a comfortable nine points behind his side in the table.
A point was probably a fair result, too, with Ludovic Ajorque's 51st-minute strike cancelled out by Senou Coulibaly twelve minutes later in a game devoid of clear cut chances.
If Laurey's side can rediscover their attacking fluency from earlier in the month and defeat Reims, they could sit as high as 12th in the table by the end of the gameweek.
© Reuters
Reims, meanwhile, recorded a third successive home victory with a narrow 1-0 win over Brest.
The decisive goal arrived in comical fashion, with Xavier Chavalerin's powerful left-footed strike from range hitting Nathanael Mbuku straight in the face and diverting into the back of the net.
Despite having 50 minutes of normal time to find an equaliser, the visitors failed to even muster a shot on target across the entire 90 minutes against David Guion's side, with Reims comfortably holding on for a massive three points.
With Boulaye Dia having scored more goals than any other player in Ligue 1 with the exception of Kylian Mbappe this term, there should be no concerns of relegation at Reims this season.
Strasbourg Ligue 1 form: LLWWWD
Reims Ligue 1 form: DWDWLW
Team News
© Reuters
Strasbourg will be without Mohamed Simakan, with a knee injury expected to keep him out until at least March.
Matz Sels and Lebo Mothiba are also injury doubts for the hosts as they continue to recover from their Achilles tendon and knee injuries respectively.
Reims, meanwhile, will welcome Moreto Cassama back to the squad after he served his one-match suspension.
Arber Zeneli, Valon Berisha, Marshall Munetsi and Fraser Hornby may not travel to Strasbourg due to injury.
Strasbourg possible starting lineup:
Kawashima; Lala, Mitrovic, Djiku, Caci; Sissoko, Aholou; Diallo, Thomasson, Chahiri; Ajorque
Reims possible starting lineup:
Rajkovic; Foket, Faes, Abdelhamid, Konan; Mbuku, Cafaro, Drammeh, Chavalerin, Doumbia; Dia
We say: Strasbourg 2-2 Reims
We can see an entertaining affair between two sides who have significantly picked up in terms of performances and results in recent weeks.
Ajorque and Dia are two of the in-form strikers in the division, so it could come down to who takes their chances on the day.
