Having lost just one of their previous 12 home league outings, the clash against Clermont at Stade de la Meinau represented Strasbourg’s best bet for winning their first game of the new season. The first couple of chances to draw first blood fell the hosts’ way in the early stages, as midfield prodigy Habib Diarra forced visiting goalkeeper Mory Diaw into a breathtaking save to keep it away from the top left corner, before Colin Dagba fluffed a volley wide of the post.
Pascal Gastein’s outfit narrowly escaped conceding the opener on the half-hour mark, thanks to Adrien Thomassen’s chipped effort from close range which bounced off the bar and back into play. French forward Ludovic Ajorque then saw a penalty area challenge on him denied by referee Marc Bollengier, much to the dismay of the home crowd.
For the second time in the match, the ball struck the visitors’ woodwork in first-half stoppage time following Maxime Le Marchand’s diving header, as Clermont entered the break perhaps fortunate to be on level terms.
Clermont had failed to register a shot on target in their last road trip, and suffered the same fate in the first-half here. Komnen Andric put that right after the restart, blasting a point-blank effort right at Matz Seis, showcasing his side’s intention of not sitting back.
However, it was Le Racing making all the right moves. The hour mark witnessed substitute Kevin Gameiro’s low drive brilliantly blocked by a defender off the goal line, following which Thomasson struck the rebound shot from inches away into Diaw’s face, as the keeper impulsively kept his side in the game.
Neither side was able to make the breakthrough as the final whistle approached, with Le Marchand being sent off in the closing stages, as a cynical challenge earned him a second yellow card. The stalemate extends the 10-man hosts’ winless run to seven this term, while Clermont took home a point, their first draw in their last 11 matches.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Yohann Magnin (Clermont Foot)
