Strasbourg vs Auxerre prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-03-18 14:00.
A battle between two of Ligue 1âs relegation candidates takes place when Strasbourg host Auxerre in a proverbial âsix-pointerâ. The two sides sit level on points but Strasbourg entered the round outside the expanded four relegation places due to their superior goal difference. Three of their four wins this season have come since the World Cup break but a recent run of three winless games has kept them firmly in the relegation mix.
The Blue-and-Whites are, however, seemingly up for the battle after a late double from Jean-Eudes Aholou rescued a 2-2 draw against Marseille last time out, a result that coach FrĂ©dĂ©ric Antonetti nonetheless described as a âbig frustrationâ as he felt his side should have won. Highlighting they might have the attitude to stay up, that was the seventh time (D7) this season theyâve rescued points after conceding first, with no side doing so more often.
The reverse 1-0 H2H defeat at Auxerre obviously wasnât one such game where Strasbourg were able to produce a comeback, with that game the ninth time in the last 11 top-flight H2Hs that theyâve failed to beat the Burgundy outfit (W2, D4, L5). That dominant H2H record offers Auxerre hope they can overturn their big odds and improve on their six-game unbeaten streak in Ligue 1 (W2, D4) which has lifted them to the cusp of safety.
A resilient defence has been the driving force behind their recovery, as Auxerre have kept clean sheets in half of those six matches while only conceding once in the others. Manager Christophe PĂ©lissier may therefore be excited ahead of what is a milestone game for his club, with this being Auxerreâs 1000th competitive fixture this century (W389, D276, L334).
Players to watch: Although he ventured forward to score both goals against Marseille, Strasbourg midfielder Aholou has had success in a deeper role when helping keep two clean sheets in his three prior encounters against Auxerre. The exception in that run was GaĂ«tan Perrinâs winner in the reverse fixture, which contributed to each of his last six goals serving as his sideâs opener.
Hot stat: Twenty of Strasbourgâs Ligue 1 fixtures this season have seen both sides score, a joint league-high.