Fifth in Ligue 1 hosts fifth in the Premier League as Strasbourg welcome Crystal Palace to the Stade de la Meinau on Thursday for matchday four of the Conference League.
Two of the favourites for the title face off for the first time in their histories, with both sides currently in the top nine of the 36-team League Phase standings.
Since a 1-0 defeat at Premier League leaders Arsenal at the end of October, Crystal Palace have gone five games unbeaten across all competitions, keeping four clean sheets along the way. Their most recent victory came last Saturday with a 2-0 win over Wolves at Molineux, courtesy of quickfire second-half goals from Daniel Munoz and Yeremy Pino.
With 20 points from 12 Premier League matches, the Eagles are enjoying their best top-flight start since 1991-92 and their strongest start overall since the 2012-13 Championship season.
Oliver Glasner has praised his team’s consistency as they approach a crucial stage in the season. The former Eintracht Frankfurt boss, who won the Europa League in 2021-22, is managing a side considered by bookmakers to be among the favourites to lift the Conference League this year, potentially becoming the third English club to win the competition after West Ham United in 2023 and Chelsea in 2025.
In the League Phase, Palace have won two of their first three fixtures, bouncing back from a surprise 1-0 home loss to AEK Larnaca with a 3-1 victory over AZ Alkmaar at Selhurst Park three weeks ago.
The result lifted them to ninth in the table, just three points behind joint leaders Samsunspor and NK Celje. The Eagles now face arguably their toughest Conference League test against Strasbourg, coached by South London-born Liam Rosenior, who spent the final three years of his playing career at Brighton & Hove Albion.
Strasbourg have made a strong start to their first European campaign in 20 years, remaining unbeaten with seven points from three matches (W2 D1) to sit seventh in the table, one point above Palace. Les Bleu et Blanc secured 2-1 away wins over Slovan Bratislava and BK Hacken, either side of a 1-1 home draw with Jagiellonia Bialystok.
Owned by the BlueCo consortium, which also controls Chelsea, Strasbourg have performed well in Ligue 1 this season, collecting 22 points from 13 matches. A recent inconsistent run, however, has left them six points off the Champions League qualification spots.
In their last seven league matches, Strasbourg have won three, drawn one and lost three, most recently falling 1-0 to Lens in a contest that saw both sides reduced to ten men. Their impressive 15-game scoring streak across all competitions also came to an end.
Back at the Stade de la Meinau, Strasbourg have been formidable, losing just once in eight competitive home fixtures this season (W6 D1 L1). They now face a stern test against Crystal Palace and will be aiming to record their first victory against English opposition since a 3-0 home win over Liverpool in the first leg of a UEFA Cup second-round tie in 1997.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Strasbourg will be without Abdoul Ouattara due to a hamstring injury, with Saidou Sow (knee), Maxi Oyedele (muscle), Karl-Johan Johnsson (wrist fracture) and Abakar Sylla (unspecified) also sidelined.
Ben Chilwell, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Crystal Palace, could be used in a back three alongside Mamadou Sarr and either Lucas Hogsberg or Andrew Omobamidele. Valentín Barco is available to start in midfield despite receiving a red card in Ligue 1 last weekend.
English-born winger Martial Godo, a summer signing from Fulham who contributed an assist in Strasbourg’s Europa League win over Hacken, will hope to return to the starting lineup alongside Julio Enciso. Newly-capped Argentina international Joaquin Panichelli, who has scored a team-high 10 goals this season, is expected to lead the line.
For Crystal Palace, Cheick Doucoure (knee) and Caleb Kporha (back) remain sidelined with long-term injuries. Chadi Riad (knee) and Rio Cardines (groin) have a slim chance of featuring and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Marc Guehi and Chris Richards, recently recovered from injury, may have their minutes managed and could start on the bench. Summer signing Jaydee Canvot is in contention to return at centre-back.
In midfield, Jefferson Lerma, who could also be used in defence, and Will Hughes are contenders to start, potentially replacing Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada. On the wings, Yeremy Pino and Ismaila Sarr are expected to continue supporting central striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, who is still seeking his first Conference League goal.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Strasbourg possible starting lineup:
Penders; Sarr, Hogsberg, Chilwell; Doue, Mourabet, Barco, Moreira; Enciso, Godo; Panichelli
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Henderson; Canvot, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Hughes, Wharton, Mitchell; Sarr, Pino; Mateta
EXPERT PREDICTION
Strasbourg 1-1 Crystal Palace
