Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Ligue 1 match.
Saint-Étienne's return to the French top flight has been eventful, though it hasn't always resulted in points. Before their home clash with Strasbourg Alsace, they are in the relegation play-off zone and are unlikely to abandon their attacking style, especially against an opponent that also favours open football.
Saint-Étienne
Over the nine past rounds of Ligue 1, Saint-Étienne have conceded 24 goals and allowed 23.82 xGA—both second-worst statistics only to Montpellier (29 goals conceded with 24.37 xGA). Last weekend, Zuriko Davitashvili once again performed brilliantly, scoring twice against Angers, though it didn't translate into points (2:4). At home, Saint-Étienne have secured six of their total seven points in the championship, so they're preparing for Saturday's game with a unique focus.
Strasbourg Alsace
After integrating several talents from Chelsea's system, Strasbourg's play has been revitalised. In the last round, they defeated Nantes (3:1), with Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos scoring twice. Only Olympique Lyonnais (18.01) and Paris Saint-Germain (28.66) boast higher xG figures than Strasbourg's 17.84, giving the mid-table side reasons to be proud. On the flip side, they have yet to improve defensively, with 16.88 xGA (seventh-worst in the league).
Saint-Étienne vs Strasbourg Alsace Prediction
During the 2021/22 campaign, Saint-Étienne and Strasbourg delivered thrilling encounters (1:5 and 2:2). Their current form suggests another high-scoring match.
