Strasbourg shocked Ligue 1 onlookers by finishing sixth and qualifying for Europe last season. Manager Julien Stephen’s team may not be the most attractive, but they are difficult to break down and defeat.
On opening day of the Ligue 1 season, Racing will host AS Monaco. Les Monegasque finished third in Ligue 1 last season, qualifying for the Champions League third qualifying round.
Ce #ASMPSV était, également, l'occasion pour le public monégasque de découvrir deux nouveaux joueurs : @takumina0116 et 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗼. ❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/PYBe7sTn0s— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) August 3, 2022
Ce #ASMPSV était, également, l'occasion pour le public monégasque de découvrir deux nouveaux joueurs : @takumina0116 et 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗼. ❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/PYBe7sTn0s
Monaco drew 1-1 with PSV Eindhoven in midweek in the first leg of the third round of Champions League qualifying. Manager Philippe Clement will need the squad to hit the ground running in Ligue 1 if Monaco are to battle Paris Saint-Germain for the title.
Strasbourg will strong at home last term posting a record of 11W-5D-2L. Racing scored 36 home goals and conceded a mere 18 times. Strasbourg claimed a 1-0 win against Monaco at home in 2021-22.
Alexander Djiku scored the game’s only goal as Racing held on after a 23rd-minute goal.
Racing have a brilliant record against Monaco across their last six head-to-head matches. Strasbourg have a record of 3W-2D-1L and are unbeaten in three straight matches versus Les Monegasque.
Monaco failed to win any of their last three matches away at Strasbourg’s Stade de la Meinau. The last six games between these teams saw them combine for 17 goals, 20 yellow cards, and two red cards. Both red cards went to Monaco.
Strasbourg have not spent much, if any, money in the transfer window. The club will rely on striker Ludovic Ajourque to score goals, which is what he has done since arriving in 2018.
The target forward has scored double digit goals in four seasons at Strasbourg. Last term, Ajorque bagged 12 goals in 36 Ligue 1 games to help the team qualify for Europe.
Fellow forwards Kevin Gameiro and Habib Diallo bagged 11 goals apiece. The trio were brilliant scoring 34 of Strasbourg’s 60 goals.
Monaco signed Takumi Minamino from Liverpool and the Japanese international made his first start of the season against PSV in midweek. Striker Breel Embolo also signed for the French club.
Both players will be in line to start as Monaco likely put more emphasis on next week’s second leg Champions League third round qualifier versus PSV Eindhoven than they do against Strasbourg.
Strasbourg should post a win against Monaco on opening day in a thrilling 2-1 match. Monaco’s Wissam Ben Yedder could get Les Monegasque on the scoresheet with Ajorque and Gameiro getting the final laugh for Strasbourg.