Angers vs Auxerre Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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Having gained promotion to Ligue 1 in the 2023/24 season, Angers and Auxerre both overperformed to ease to safety but they are struggling this time around.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports Connect
Angers preview: Struggling Angers
Angers come into this one on the back of a slender 1-0 defeat to Lille in their most recent outing at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in the north of France last weekend, due to a first-half stoppage-time winner scored by Felix Correia.
The home team, under the management of Alexandre Dujeux, have started the campaign with two victories in their opening 11 matches of the campaign, hovering above the bottom three and the danger zone.
Auxerre preview: Rock-bottom Auxerre
Auxerre instead begin the 12th match day of the Ligue 1 campaign sitting rock-bottom with just seven points collected from their games thus far, with pressure beginning to grow on Christophe Pelissier.
The visitors’ most recent outing saw them suffer a slender 1-0 loss to Olympique de Marseille last weekend at Stade de l’Abbe Deschamps, with Angel Gomes scoring a first-half winner before both teams went down to ten men in the second-half.
Angers team news: Couple of issues
Angers are dealing with a couple of issues for this one as former Clermont man Jim Allevinah is sidelined, whilst Emmanuel Biumla is a doubt due to a thigh issue.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Koffi; Arcus, Camara, Lefort, Ekomie; Belkelba, Abdelli; Raolisoa, Mouton, Sbai; Cherif
Unavailable: Allevinah (Injured)
Questionable: Biumla (Injured)
Auxerre team news: Diomande suspended
Sinaly Diomande was the man sent off for Auxerre against Marseille last week and now the key centre-back for the visitors is missing through suspension for this one.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Leon; Senaya, Francisco Sierralta, Akpa; Casimir, Owusu, Danois, Mensah; Coulibaly, Sinayoko, Loader
Unavailable: Diomande (Suspended), Buayi-Kiala (Injured),El Azzouzi (Injured), Coulibaly (Injured)
Questionable: Siwe (Injured), Matondo (Injured)
Angers vs Auxerre prediction
Their push to survival last season was built on a very tight and strong defensive record. However, Angers have lacked quality in the final third and their limitations are what will likely hurt them this season. Auxerre head to Stade Raymond Kopa lacking much cohesion in attack themselves and there is an expectation that this one will be a low quality and low-scoring encounter this weekend.
Angers vs Auxerre tip: Under 2.5 goals
