Strasbourg vs Angers prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-02-17 20:00.
Strasbourg's 2-0 defeat at Lille last weekend marked the end of interim coach Mathieu Le Scornet's mission, as he was replaced by Frédéric Antonetti this week. At 61, the oldest coach in Ligue 1 has experienced relegation only once in his long career with Metz last season, and he will be more motivated than ever to save Strasbourg, stating that he had "a personal revenge to take".
Although complicated, Antonetti's mission is far from impossible, considering the Strasbourgeois find themselves only one point adrift of safety ahead of this round, and if he succeeds, his contract will be extended by one year! While Strasbourg recorded their first win of the 2022/23 Ligue 1 season against Angers, this fixture is a great opportunity to record their first run of consecutive league victories on home soil this campaign.
Back-to-back draws may have halted rock-bottom Angers’ dreadful run of 13 consecutive losses in Ligue 1, but their situation remains bleak, illustrated by a nine-point deficit from safety at the end of last round. Coach Abdel Bouhazama remains positive however, saying that he “still believes", but all of the four prior Ligue 1 teams sitting on ten points or less after 23 rounds have ended up bottom of the table.
Despite their current run of six away scoring blanks in Ligue 1 (D1, L5), Angers make this trip after avoiding defeat in their previous five top-flight visits to Strasbourg (W2, D3), with their last H2H loss at Stade de la Meinau dating back to 1980! They can also look at recent history for some inspiration, as Angers defeated Strasbourg on penalties here in the French Cup in early January.
Players to watch: Strasbourg might look to Kévin Gameiro for a good start as he’s opened the scoring within 11 minutes in the previous two league H2Hs. Angers have their own fast starter in Adrien Hunou, who scored within 11 minutes in his previous two goalscoring Ligue 1 matches, including the reverse H2H.
Hot stat: Strasbourg (27) and Angers (24) are the two Ligue 1 sides that have conceded the most goals before half-time.