Auxerre vs Montpellier prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-01-28 14:00.
The last time these two sides met at Auxerreâs Stade de l'AbbĂ©-Deschamps, Montpellier won 2-1 to clinch what is still their only top-flight title. Thatâs no more than Ligue 1 folklore now, with this currently a clash between two sides facing potential relegation, though itâs Auxerre who are sinking faster after their latest league defeat at Lens (1-0) saw them stretch their losing run to five straight league games.
Thatâs their longest losing Ligue 1 streak since the turn of the century, and with no side conceding more goals ahead of the round (41), things are not looking bright. Auxerre boss Christophe Pelissier remains defiant however, stating that their display against Lens âdeserved pointsâ, after recovering from a âcomplicatedâ 5-0 defeat to Toulouse in their last league home outing.
Montpellier are in a somewhat tricky position themselves, sitting just two points above the drop zone ahead of the round after losing three straight league games, bookended by a 3-0 defeat to bottom-half side Nantes. Itâs been a torrid campaign so far, with their 12 defeats after 19 league outings the most theyâve ever managed at this stage in their Ligue 1 history!
Recent departures of defender Nicolas Cozza and goalkeeper Jonas Omlin might heighten worries too, as the 40 goals Montpellier have conceded is more than any other of their Ligue 1 campaigns after 19 games played. At least theyâve avoided defeat in two of their last three away league outings (W1, D1), though a 6-1 defeat to Nice in the last of those games means we might see goals leaked here in what is a clash between two of the league's most suspect defences!
Players to watch: M'Baye Niang has been an all-action player for Auxerre recently, after netting two goals and picking up two yellows and a red card across his last five home league outings. Heâs not been as prolific as Montpellierâs TĂ©ji Savanier however, with the midfielder grabbing three goals from his last four appearances – all team openers.
Hot streak: Montpellier havenât won a Ligue 1 away game when conceding first since January 2020 (D4, L21).