Preview: Angers vs. Troyes - prediction, team news, lineups

Angers will welcome Troyes to the Stade Jean-Bouin for their Ligue 1 encounter on Sunday afternoon.

The two teams, who currently sit in the bottom half of the table, played out a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture back in September last year.

Match preview

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Despite going a man down in the 14th minute and then failing to register a single shot on target throughout the 90 minutes, Angers managed to hold on for a goalless draw away at Lorient last weekend.

Gerald Baticle will have been pleased with his side's fitness levels and resilience to claim a point, considering it was their first game in 25 days.

That result for Angers also ended a run of three successive defeats across all competitions and has moved them nine points clear of the Ligue 1 relegation zone with a game in hand.

After a bright start to the campaign, winning four and drawing four of their first nine league matches, the Black and Whites have since won only two of their last 11 games and have slipped eight points behind the European places.

Angers have, however, lost only one of their five top-flight meetings with Troyes, so Baticle's side will be hopeful of returning to winning ways this weekend.

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Troyes ended a run of five games across all competitions without a win when they secured a slender 1-0 away victory against 10-man Montpellier on Wednesday.

The dismissal of Montpellier's captain and key creator Teji Tedy Savanier certainly handed ESTAC the advantage for the final half an hour, and they managed to find the breakthrough when a brilliant 20-yard volley from Xavier Chavalerin flew into the top-left corner to seal all three points for the visitors.

Bruno Irles's side were initially hovering just one point above the relegation playoff position, and although they remain in 15th place, they have now moved three points clear of danger.

Last season's Ligue 2 champions will be looking to claim successive away victories in the top flight for the first time since they did between September and October back in 2001, when they face Angers on Sunday.

Team News

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Angers left wing-back Souleyman Doumbia will serve a one-match suspension after his red card last weekend, with Pierrick Capelle set to start as a result.

Sofiane Boufal, Azzedine Ounahi, Enzo Ebosse and Stephane Bahoken are also absent as they remain away on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Centre-back Romain Thomas remains doubtful with a back problem, so midfielder Batista Mendy is expected to fill in at the heart of the defence once again alongside Ismael Traore and Vincent Manceau.

January signing Nabil Bentaleb, who joined Angers as a free agent earlier this month, is in line to start his first home game for the club after making his debut against Montpellier.

As for Troyes, Adil Rami, Renaud Ripart, Karim Azamoum and Youssouf Kone are all doubtful due to injury and will be assessed ahead of kickoff, while Yoann Touzghar, Mama Balde, Rominigue Kouame and Issa Kabore are in AFCON action.

New signing Abdu Conte is ineligible to play this weekend, so right wing-back Giulian Biancone is expected to remain in the first XI, with Oualid El Hajjam operating on the opposite flank.

Luxembourg forward Gerson Rodrigues, who has failed to score since his debut for the club in September, is set to be handed another start in attack alongside Tristan Dingome.

Angers possible starting lineup:

Petkovic; Manceau, Traore, Mendy; Cabot, Bentaleb, Mangani Capelle; Fulgini; Ninga, Cho

Troyes possible starting lineup:

Gallon; Giraudon, Salmier, Palmer-Brown; El Hajjam, Tardieu, Chavalerin, Chambost, Biancone; Dingome; Rodrigues

We say: Angers 1-1 Troyes

Neither Angers or Troyes will be able to name their strongest starting lineups on Saturday, meaning that we could see a more even contest played out at the Stade Jean-Bouin. With little to separate the two teams, a score draw could be on the cards.