Strasbourg are about to be named as the only Ligue 1 side not to lose a match in the group/competition stages of the Conference League.
Strasbourg is aiming for an undefeated Conference League group stage
Strasbourg will play on Thursday in the final round of the 2025/26 Conference League phase against Icelandic Breidablik, which is at the top of the standings.
Liam Rosenior’s side are the only current team in the competition guaranteed at least a place in this season’s play-off round.
Strasbourg have already qualified for at least the play-off round of this season’s tournament after going unbeaten in five games (W4, D1); they are currently the only team in the competition to have achieved this feat.
To put Strasbourg’s performance on paper into a more impressive perspective, they are just one of three teams, alongside Raków Częstochowa and AEK Larnaca, who have yet to lose a game in the 2025/26 league phase.
Stacking in the eye-catching department, but struggling at home
One hurdle preventing Strasbourg from potentially overshadowing Lille in the latter stages of this season’s competition could be their form in front of their supporters. Le Racing have failed to get on the podium in their last two games (D1, L1), causing them to drop in the Ligue 1 standings.
Despite being France’s second best marksman this season with Joaquín Panichelli, who has scored nine goals this season, and club captain Emmanuel Emegha at the top, Strasbourg have struggled so far at the Stade de la Meinau.
Emegha’s impending departure to Chelsea will certainly hurt Strasbourg, but that will only carry over at the end of the current season. However, Emegha is currently eligible to play in the Conference League phase. So unless the club decides to make him an active participant for the final stages, it will be up to Panichelli to keep scoring the goals.
Some could easily see that as a downside to the Chelsea-BlueCo ownership model, which owns both the Blues and Strasbourg, as the French side will lose Emegha at the end of the season. That’s not to say other Strasbourg players haven’t impressed on the pitch so far in 202526, with Valentín Barco making five attacking returns (G1, A4) and Guela Doué another four, G1, A3.
Three points on Thursday to secure an impressive first place
Three points at the Stade de la Meinau would secure top spot for Strasbourg, as will Lille in 2023/24. However, Rosenior’s men will have to face a completely new opponent, having never faced an Icelandic team before.
Breaking new ground would certainly inspire confidence in Strasbourg, potentially emulating Lille’s feat of reaching the quarter-finals a few years ago before being agonizingly knocked out on penalties by Aston Villa.
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