AC Ajaccio vs Montpellier prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-03-11 14:00.
Struggling AC Ajaccio are having a season to forget and come into this latest Ligue 1 round 18th in the table. Their poor performances have resulted in a number of unwanted records being set, the most recent coming on the back of their last-gasp 1-0 defeat to Reims last time out which sealed their 12th defeat ‘to-nil’ and a 13th game in which they failed to find the net – both league-highs.
The Bears, therefore, need to go on the hunt, but ranked as the league’s lowest scorers with only 20 goals may serve as a handicap in their attempt to claw their way to safety. Improving their offensive output may prove a tough assignment against Montpellier too, given Ajaccio have lost seven of the last nine league H2Hs (W1, D1) while failing to score on five of those occasions.
Given just one of the last 13 league H2Hs have ended all square, we can probably expect to see a victor from this clash. The bookmakers understandably make mid-table Montpellier favourites here after their 5-0 thrashing of Angers last weekend extended manager Michel Der Zakarian’s unbeaten start to his second stint at the club to four matches (W3, D1).
La Paillade could do with finding a degree of consistency on the road having alternated between wins and losses in their last five away league assignments (W3, L2). This will be pivotal if Der Zakarian has higher aspirations other than avoiding relegation, which should be the case considering he never finished outside the top half during his first stint in charge.
Players to watch: Mounaïm El Idrissy has often been the difference maker for Ajaccio, with five of his last eight goals for the club acting as match-winners. For Montpellier, Elye Wahi’s goal in the reverse fixture contributed to five of his last seven goals coming after half-time.
Hot stat: Ajaccio have netted the match opener only three times this season, the lowest tally across Europe’s top-five leagues.