We end our week-long training camp in Germany with a game against RC Strasbourg Alsace tomorrow afternoon (1.30pm kick-off local time).
The test against the Ligue 1 side is our third of pre-season, coming after Saturday’s game against VfB Stuttgart.
THE OPPOSITION
Founded in 1906 in what was then German territory, Strasbourg began life as Erster Fußball Club Neudorf. Following World War One, and the return of Alsace-Lorraine to France, the club adopted the name Racing Club de Strasbourg in 1919 and began competing in the French Championships.
RC Strasbourg Alsace have plenty of reasons to be positive after a turbulent decade that has taken them to the brink and back.
Last season’s sixth-place finish in Ligue 1, their best result since 1980, came a decade after they were liquidated and relegated to France’s fifth tier. Racing Club de Strasbourg, as they were then known, ceased to exist, replaced instead with their current name of RC Strasbourg Alsace.
It marked the low point for a club that is one of only six to have won all three major domestic titles in France: the Championship (1979), the Coupe de France (1951, 1966 and 2001) and the Coupe de la Ligue (1964, 1997, 2005 and 2019).
RCSA’s rise from the fifth tier back to Ligue 1 took just five years and they have since sought to re-establish themselves among France’s elite.
Julien Stéphan’s squad contains names that will be familiar to Brentford fans. Matz Sels (Newcastle United) and Maxime Le Marchand (Fulham) both had spells in England while Kevin Gameiro and Lebo Mothiba have enjoyed successful domestic and international careers.
TEAM NEWS
Aaron Hickey made his first appearance for Brentford on Saturday against VfB Stuttgart while Keane Lewis-Potter and Thomas Strakosha could make their first outings tomorrow. Otherwise, it will be the same squad as Saturday’s game at the Zeppelinstadion Friedrichshafen.
THE MANAGER
41-year-old Julien Stéphan is fast building a name for himself in French football. Following a short career in the French lower leagues, Stéphan’s first role came with his hometown club Rennes B.
When Sabri Lamouchi was sacked as Rennes manager in December 2018, Stéphan was initially given a role as interim manager. A string of victories followed, including one over Astana in the UEFA Europa League that took Rennes to their first-ever European knockout round, and Stéphan was given the permanent job.
Stéphan led Rennes to their first trophy in 48 years by winning the 2019 Coupe de France, beating Paris Saint-Germain 6–5 in a penalty shootout in the final after drawing 2–2.
The following season he finished third in Ligue 1, guaranteeing Rennes their first-ever qualification for the Champions League. Having resigned in March 2021, Stéphan took over at RCSA the following summer, enjoying a fine first season in Alsace.
TICKET AND TRAVEL INFO
Stadium Address: SV Aasen, Ob. Wiesen, 78166 Donaueschingen
Tomorrow’s match will be played at the home of SV Aasen, on the outskirts of Donaueschingen.
The stadium is about a ten-minute drive north-west of the town, across the B33, on Pfohrener Strasse K5756.
After crossing the main road, turn left onto the Ostbaarstraße/K5701, follow that for 1.5 miles, passing the stadium on your left, then take the first left and left again to find the stadium.
There is no admission price for the game.