Strasbourg vs AC Ajaccio prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-04-15 13:00.
âWe need to save our place in Ligue 1â said a desperate coach FrĂ©dĂ©ric Antonetti after Strasbourgâs 2-1 loss at high-flying Lens last weekend extended their dismal run to just one win in five league outings (D1, L3), leaving them in the drop zone for the first time under Antonetti. They now battle it out with another relegation candidate, Ajaccio, in what has the feel of a proverbial relegation âsix-pointerâ with both sides in desperate need of the points.
After back-to-back road trips (L2), a return to Stade de la Meinau will be most welcome for a Strasbourg side who have won three of their last four games here (L1), although the suspension of top-scorer Habib Diallo (G15) will likely make the task more complicated. Antonetti will hope Diallo isnât too sorely missed and considering he is unbeaten in four home H2Hs against Ajaccio as a coach (W3, D1), he has historically proved he has the knowhow to beat Ajaccio.
After suffering their fifth league loss in a row against Auxerre last time out (3-0), Ajaccio already have one foot in Ligue 2, with a seven-point gap to safety at the end of last round looking increasingly difficult to overturn. The ACA arguably need a win here to retain any realistic chances of keeping their top-flight status, although coach Olivier Pantaloni seems to have given up saying âthis defeat condemns us to Ligue 2â after Sundayâs loss.
Such a statement may seem harsh, but it could also relieve some of the pressure on Pantaloniâs men as they bid to avoid matching the club's worst run in the top-flight since 1969 with a sixth consecutive loss! A meeting with Strasbourg could turn out to be a nightmare then considering Ajaccio have never won an away H2H (D5, L9), although a 4-2 success in the reverse fixture, should prove that a positive result is certainly not impossible.
Players to watch: Strasbourg will hope that KĂ©vin Gameiro can repeat his feat against Ajaccio back in 2011 when he netted his last Ligue 1 hat-trick. Meanwhile, Ajaccioâs MounaĂŻm El Idrissy will be looking to have an impact on the road again, as he has scored four of his teamâs 12 away league goals so far this season.
Hot stat: Strasbourg are the only Ligue 1 side yet to win after conceding first (D7, L12).