Crisis club Angers aim to halt their slide towards the Ligue 1 trapdoor on Sunday, as they welcome mid-table Lorient to Stade Raymond Kopa.
While the Loire club lost for an eighth straight league game on their return from the World Cup break, their New Year's Day opponents remain in the mix for European qualification despite being beaten by Montpellier last time out.
Match preview
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Rock-bottom of the Ligue 1 standings and currently six points adrift of safety, Angers continued to sink towards an apparently inevitable relegation when they returned to competitive action on Wednesday.
Facing fellow drop-zone dwellers Ajaccio at Stade Francois Coty, they were unable to find a response to going behind just before half-time; losing 1-0 to their Corsican counterparts to drop further behind in the survival race.
Les Noirs et Blancs have accumulated just eight points from 16 league games so far, and eight consecutive defeats represents the club's worst-ever run in the top flight.
Still without a permanent manager following the protracted process of Gerard Baticle's sacking several weeks ago, the side since led by interim head coach Abdel Bouhazama now host a team contending for a top-five finish, before visiting Strasbourg in the Coupe de France next week.
Not only possessing Ligue 1's worst defensive record, after conceding goals at a rate of more than two per game, soon Angers may also be without two stars of Morocco's memorable Qatar 2022 campaign: both winger Sofiane Boufal and in-demand midfielder Azzedine Ounahi are seeking a departure in the January transfer window.
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By contrast with their ailing opponents, Lorient can look towards the new year with some hope, though they stumbled in their final fixture of 2022; suffering just a fourth league loss of the season.
Already two goals down before the half-hour mark at home to Montpellier, the Breton club ultimately slipped to a 2-0 defeat, though they still sit on the shoulders of the division's top six.
Having started the season in flying form, Lorient have since lost some ground; yet they are only a point behind Lille, two adrift of Monaco, and remain above both Lyon and Nice heading into 2023.
Head coach Regis Le Bris has helped Les Merlus match their total of league wins from last term already, but he will be concerned that they are now without victory in six competitive matches after previously posting a club-record six wins on the spin.
Nonetheless, Lorient have lost only once on the road this season before travelling to Stade Raymond Kopa, where they have been beaten without scoring on their two most recent visits.
Team News
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Once again, Angers are expected to be without Azzedine Ounahi and Sofiane Boufal as both seek a route out of the club during the transfer window, which reduces the hosts' options in midfield and up front.
In addition, Nabil Bentaleb is sidelined by a back injury and goalkeeper Yahia Fofana missed the loss to Ajaccio with a knee problem.
The latter's absence would see former France Under-21 international Paul Bernardoni start again, while Himad Abdelli and Batista Mendy should join forces in central midfield.
Like Sunday's opponents, Lorient have their first-choice keeper unavailable, as Swiss stopper Yvon Mvogo recovers from a knee operation; Vito Mannone deputises as their last line of defence.
Former Malmo midfielder Bonke Innocent should run the visitors' engine room, while countryman Terem Moffi - who has 10 Ligue 1 goals to his name this season - leads the line up front.
Angers possible starting lineup:
Bernardoni; Valery, Blazic, Hountondji, Doumbia; Mendy, Abdelli; Sima, Hunou, El Melali; Salama
Lorient possible starting lineup:
Mannone; Kalulu, Matsima, Talbi, Le Goff; Innocent, Le Fee; Diarra, Ponceau, Ouattara; Moffi
We say: Angers 1-2 Lorient
While faltering form has seen Lorient slip down the table, facing a side that simply cannot keep the back door shut could be the perfect way to start 2023. Angers are demoralised by recent events and must now host a team that tends to travel well, so their search for a win will go on.
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