Strasbourg vs Angers Prediction: Strasbourg have no excuses

This will be the trip of Angers against Strasbourg on September 15th, 2024, to determine the next opponent in Ligue 1. Both teams have experienced a mediocre start to the season: Strasbourg has managed to take 9th place, while Angers sits struggling in 17th place with three losses in a row. This will be an important fixture for both teams, with Strasbourg seeking consolidation in the middle part of the table and Angers desperate for points to begin making its move out of the relegation zone. In light of the recent form and statistical data, it has emerged that the two teams have been moving in opposite directions, so this match means a lot for both clubs.

Strasbourg

While Strasbourg has blown hot and cold in the early starts with one win, one draw, and one loss in their first three games. They come into this game from a pulsating 4-3 loss away to Lyon, with their attack scrappy and their defense highly fragile. The team's knack for finding the net has not been the problem-netting three times in that match-but they have been shaky, particularly on their backline, with 8 goals conceded in their last five games. Strasbourg, now having home field advantage, will seek to rebound and gather momentum.

Recent trends in Strasbourg's performances indicate that they are stronger in attack but with serious issues to be sorted at the back. Sebastian Nanasi, Andrey Santos, and Emanuel Emegha contributed goals each, showing that indeed, Strasbourg can find the back of the net with consistency. However, their backline let them down, conceding goals at an alarming rate of 8 in 5 games. Their defeat to Lyon 4-3 sums up the problem.

Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior has also continued with his use of a 3-2-4-1 system that gives them strength in numbers going forward but leaves spaces at the back. A bit more attacking midfield will see Strasbourg expose Angers' poor defense. The key challenge for Vieira will be tightening up his defense, ensuring they don't give away cheap goals.

Angers

In contrast, Angers are freefalling. The team lost all three of their opening matches and the last five games across all competitions. Their 4-1 home defeat against Nice is the perfect representation of their defensive weaknesses: although they had 54% possession in that game, Angers just could not help their opponents come through with a wave of goals, signaling their poor form in defense. Offensively, they are having an equally hard time getting off the mark, managing just a solitary goal from open play in their first three games. For Angers not to be defeated, they will have to strongly raise their level of performance against an able Strasbourg side.

On the other hand, Angers has been defensively and offensively poor; they have conceded 8 goals in three matches with only one goal scored. This team seems to find it very hard to create any chances as they are also highly vulnerable at their back. In fact, the only notable contribution of this team up until now in offence came from a penalty goal by Himad Abdelli in the last match. In this fixture, Angers' lack of attacking creativity and defensive organization may leave them once again exposed.

Alexandre Dujeux-lined Angers deployed a 5-3-2 formation in their last match against Nice. Such a structure is somewhat expected to be more defensive-minded, but it does not really pay dividends so far this season. Angers may try to sit deep and hit Strasbourg on the counter, but defensive disorganization and inefficient transitions might hinder this plan.

Head to Head

Head-to-head shows 7 wins for Angers, 5 for Strasbourg, and 5 draws. It means that their history is competitive, with a slight advantage to Angers.

Six of the last eight games involving the two sides have seen under 2.5 goals scored, which might indicate poor-scoring matches. Seven of the last nine matches have had fewer than 4.5 cards issued, which indicates the game will be well-disciplined with a low number of fouls committed. Five of the last seven have witnessed fewer than 10.5 corners, which may prove neither side has been particularly adventurous in their attack.

After all, in their last meeting in February 2023, Strasbourg had managed a 2-1 home win to prove that they could beat Angers even in the closest of matches.

Expert Betting Tips

Strasbourg lined up in a 3-2-4-1 shape, emphasizing midfield control and numerical superiority when going forward. In fact, high press and fast ball circulation are common means of taking hold of possession, but especially in transitional phases. With Angers showing strategic shortcomings in the defensive shape, such tactics by Strasbourg may overwhelm their opponents mainly through its wide attackers and midfield overloads.

Angers' 5-3-2 is constructed upon the vision of being compact, soaking up pressure, but it has been woefully executed. For the most part, this low block hasn't really worked out in keeping teams from creating high-quality chances. Angers is likely to struggle again if Strasbourg can isolate their wing-backs and create overloads on the flanks.

Considering the form of both teams, it should be all Strasbourg in terms of possession and creating chances. With Angers' poor defensive record and their inability to create consistent offense, they'll find it hard to leave here with a result.

• Home Win/Draw & Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.02 Odds
• Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.90 Odds
• Home Win FT @ 1.70 Odds