Our prediction for this Ligue 1 match:
Following back-to-back defeats to Rennes and Monaco, Lyon will look to get back on course in Ligue 1 when they face Strasbourg on Matchday 3. Les Gones made a slow start to the season, but Friday’s football game could be the turning point for the home side. Defender Nicolas Tagliafico misses out with injury, while midfielder Ernest Nuamah is a major doubt.
Anyhow, Georgia international Georges Mikautadze is ready to step up. Le Racing, on the other hand, proved their worth in a 3-1 win over Rennes at home, but it is well known that they struggle on the travels. In their last meeting at Stade Olympique Lyonnais Lyon defeated Strasbourg 2-1 and we predict that history is going to repeat itself. Both Thomas Delaine and Moise Sahi Dion are sidelined with injuries, while Milos Lukovic is likely to miss the game through illness.
Highlighted Player (Nemanja Matic):
Nemanja Matic is a Serbian footballer who plays for Premier League side Chelsea. The 194-cm-tall midfielder was born on 1 August, 1988 and he began his football career (youth) at Radnicki Obrenovac.
In 2005 he signed for Kolubara and after impressing with Kosice in the 2008/2009 campaign, Chelsea owners decided to sign him. Nemanja spent the 2010/2011 season on loan at Vitesse and at the end of the season he signed a deal with Portuguese giants Benfica, with David Luiz heading in the other direction.
Matic was in the form of his life in the 2013/2014 Primeira Liga campaign and he helped the Eagles clinch the domestic trophy. He rejoined Chelsea in 2014 for a fee of €25M and he helped the Blues win the Premier League title in the 2014/2015 season. Nemanja Matic has also developed into a key member of the Serbian national team that have been largely struggling of late.
Highlighted Team (Strasbourg):
Founded back in 1906, Strasbourg is a professional football team that compete in French Ligue 1. Le Racing did remarkably well to win the 1979 Ligue 1 trophy and that is considered the biggest success in the history of the club. Strasbourg won Coupe de France on three occasions (1951, 1966, 2001) and they have three Coupe de la Ligue trophies as well (1964, 1997, 2005). Strasbourg’s main rivals are Metz and the two teams face each other in the Derby de l’Est (The Eastern derby).
Le Racing recorded their biggest victory over Valenciennes (10-0) in the 1937-1938 season, whilst they suffered their biggest loss to Limoges (0-8) in the 1959/1960 season. Paraguayan goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert, who is well known for his free-kick abilities, played for the club from 2000 to 2003, but he failed to score in a league match during his spell with the Stade de la Meinau outfit. Speaking of Stade de la Meinau, Strasbourg’s home ground was opened back in 1914 and the capacity of the venue is 29,320.