Under the guidance of English coach Liam Rosenior, Strasbourg’s pursuit of a Champions League spot is gaining momentum, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. The Alsace-based club is riding high on a nine-match unbeaten streak in Ligue 1 as they prepare for a crucial showdown with Monaco this Saturday. A win would see Strasbourg equal Monaco’s points total, with both teams vying for a spot in Europe’s top competition.
Strasbourg’s Champions League Dream
Currently sitting in sixth place, Strasbourg is pushing for a top-four finish in Ligue 1, which guarantees a Champions League qualification. The team has been impressive, with strong performances from key players such as Dutch striker Emanuel Emegha, who has netted 13 goals this season, and Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos, who has contributed nine goals. Furthermore, the defense has been solid, keeping six clean sheets in their last nine matches, including a remarkable five-game streak.
“We’ve felt for a while that this group has something special,” said Rosenior, who has instilled belief in his squad.
Monaco’s Attack to Test Strasbourg
However, Strasbourg faces a tough challenge against Monaco, who are also in excellent form. The Stade Louis II hosts will rely on the attacking prowess of Mika Biereth, who has scored 12 goals in 12 games, including three hat tricks at home. He has been instrumental alongside Breel Embolo and Takumi Minamino, with attacking midfielder Maghnes Akliouche providing the creative spark with eight assists, second-best in the league.
Rosenior remains confident: “We know Monaco is a team that likes to play. We’re keeping the same course, not changing anything,” he said. Strasbourg has only lost one league match in 2025 and aims to keep their strong form going.
Liam Rosenior’s Remarkable First Season
Rosenior, 40, has had a remarkable first season as a head coach in France. The former Premier League player with Fulham, Reading, and Hull has made a smooth transition to coaching after brief stints at Derby and Hull. Despite limited preseason preparation, Rosenior has shown great promise, even being nominated for manager of the year in England’s Championship last season.
“Preseason preparation was short, and some players arrived late, so we never really had all the players together,” Rosenior reflected on the challenges of his early months in charge.
Chelsea’s Ownership Raises Questions
One potential issue for Strasbourg’s Champions League bid is its ownership. The club is owned by Chelsea’s parent company, BlueCo, which could pose a conflict with UEFA’s rules on multi-club ownership. UEFA requires clubs owned by the same entity to be kept separate in competitions, which could affect both clubs’ qualification for the Champions League or Europa League.
Strasbourg could qualify for the Champions League while Chelsea might also make it, but the UEFA rules would likely require Chelsea to divest from Strasbourg temporarily to avoid any potential issues with competition integrity.
A Georgian Showdown: Saint-Etienne vs Lyon
This weekend also brings an exciting local derby between Saint-Etienne and Lyon, with two Georgian teammates — Zuriko Davitashvili and Georges Mikautadze — leading their respective teams’ attacks. Despite struggling defensively, Saint-Etienne has been dangerous in attack, with Davitashvili contributing seven goals and seven assists.
Meanwhile, Mikautadze has been Lyon’s standout player with nine goals and five assists. The match promises to be a thrilling encounter as both teams battle in different parts of the table, with Saint-Etienne fighting relegation and Lyon looking to secure a European spot.
“We’ll need everyone for this battle until the end,” said Saint-Etienne’s Irvin Cardona, who scored twice in a recent 3-3 draw against Brest.
