Auxerre vs Rennes prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-03-10 16:00.
By putting behind them the club’s worst Ligue 1 losing run in history (L7) with five consecutive games without defeat (W2, D3), Auxerre found their groove in February and now find themselves adrift of safety on goal difference only. This upturn in form seems to have coincided with the loan signing of goalkeeper Andrei Radu in January, highlighted by his penalty save at Nice last weekend grabbing AJA an important point (D 1-1).
Christophe PĂ©lissier’s men will now look to claim consecutive top-flight home wins for the first time since 2011, after defeating Lyon 2-1 in their last home outing – their first home win of the campaign when conceding the opening goal (D2, L4). In addition to provisionally climbing out of the drop zone, a win here could inspire the Auxerre youth who will face Rennes in the Coupe Gambardella quarter-finals the next day.
Optimism has steadily deteriorated for Rennes since suffering three losses across their last five Ligue 1 outings (W2), as many as they recorded in the 17 games prior! After a 1-0 home defeat against Marseille last weekend, manager Bruno Génésio and his players must now avoid consecutive failures to score for the first time in 18 months if his side are to reduce their five-point gap to third-placed Monaco whilst consolidating their position within the top five.
Although their recent away form is concerning (W1, L4), the Red and Black are on a scoring run on the road, finding the net in their last 19 away league matches, representing the longest current such run in Ligue 1! The visitors remain strong favourites going into this game and Génésio could be remembered as the first coach to guide Rennes to a league double over Auxerre, following their 5-0 triumph in the reverse fixture back in September.
Key battle: Defender Jubal has scored the game’s final goal in Auxerre’s previous two home outings, but he could be upstaged early on by Rennes’ Benjamin Bourigeaud, who has netted his team’s opener in ten of his last 11 goal scoring appearances.
Hot streak: Rennes have failed to win their last three games away to newly promoted sides (D1, L2).