Angers vs Auxerre prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-02-11 14:00.
Angers’ 0-0 draw away to Europe-chasing Lorient last Sunday ended an abysmal 13-game Ligue 1 losing run, but Abdelaziz Bouhazama’s maiden point in charge only moved them onto a combined total of nine, in a season that has surpassed even the most pessimistic fan’s worst nightmares. On that basis alone, Angers’ relegation already looks as good as sealed, especially as all of the four prior Ligue 1 teams sitting on single figures after 22 rounds have ended up bottom.
As if Angers haven’t been humiliated enough already, a defeat here will additionally see them equal Metz’s record run of eight straight Ligue 1 home losses set back in 2017. And there are no prizes for guessing any losing scoreline either, with their previous five league clashes at the Stade Raymond-Kopa ending 2-1 to the day’s visitors!
But Auxerre are not in good shape either, especially after a midweek cup exit to lower-league Rodez. They also find themselves looking back on just one victory in 18 league outings (D4, L13) after drawing 0-0 vs Reims, a result that left them only one place above Angers and five points adrift of safety. Worse still, a 3-2 loss at Monaco on February 1st remains the only time they’ve found the net in Ligue 1 action during 2023.
It might well have been different now, had Auxerre won after taking a 2-0 lead inside ten minutes of August’s reverse fixture, instead of capitulating to a 2-2 draw. That seems more like six years rather than six months ago, especially when considering that Auxerre have scored no first-half goals from open play across the previous nine Ligue 1 rounds.
Players to watch: Abdallah Sima gave Angers false hope by scoring the opener inside the first 15 minutes in their last Ligue 1 home outing, coincidentally against another promoted side (Ajaccio). As for the visitors, they might look again to Matthis Abline, with the teenager registering their first league goal of 2023 in the recent defeat at Monaco.
Hot stat: Despite their desolate position, Angers begin this round with the third-highest tally of early home league goals, with four inside the first 15 minutes!