Clermont and Strasbourg played out a thrilling match at the Stade de la Meinau in Clermont-Ferrand on Saturday evening, with Clermont ultimately coming away with a 2-1 victory to retain their hopes of promotion.
The game was full of action from start to finish, with both teams displaying excellent attacking play throughout. However, it was Clermont who took the lead early on through a goal from Florian Thauvin, who struck from close range after some impressive individual skill.
Strasbourg fought back though, and equalized just before half-time through a goal from Jean-Michel Kaluzny, who scored from a penalty kick following a handball by Clermont's goalkeeper.
In the second half, Clermont regrouped and took control of the match, with Thauvin scoring his second goal of the night to give them the lead once again. The visitors continued to push forward, but Strasbourg were unable to find a way past Clermont's defense.
With the final whistle blowing, it was clear that this was going to be a hard-fought battle for both sides. In the end, however, it was Clermont who came out on top, securing their place in the playoffs and giving themselves a fighting chance of promotion to Ligue 1 next season.
This result will undoubtedly boost the morale of the Clermont squad, who have been struggling for form recently. With two games remaining in the season, they now know that they can still achieve their goals and secure their future in the top flight.
Overall, it was another exciting match between two strong rivals, and one that showed why Clermont is such a competitive side. They will be looking to build on this performance as they continue their quest for promotion, while Strasbourg will need to focus on improving their performances if they want to avoid being relegated.