AC Ajaccio vs Brest prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-04-22 13:00.
Ajaccio have seven games remaining to close the ten-point gap to safety that they began this round with, but having collected just six points in 2023 so far (W2, L13), long-time manager Olivier Pantaloni is going to have to manufacture one of the greatest turnarounds in football history to avoid an immediate return to Ligue 2.
Just being able to celebrate a goal at home would seemingly be a wonderful turn of events for the Ajaccio fans that have faithfully endured six losses ‘to nil’ from their last seven home Ligue 1 fixtures. The most recent of those was a 3-0 drubbing against fellow relegation possibles Auxerre that arguably confirmed that France’s top flight is simply too difficult for the hosts. On a more positive note, the shirts of Brest could provide some sorely needed inspiration, as Ajaccio ended a seven-game winless run (D1, L6) with a 1-0 away victory the last time these sides met !
That was one of six times that Brest failed to win from nine league games as pre-match favourites this season (W3, D3, L3), though that rate improved last round to 33% with a 1-0 home win against Nice that crucially kept them two points clear of an unforgiving four-team drop zone with just seven games remaining this season.
Whilst it would have been soothing for Éric Roy to get one over his former employer, the job is far from done. Brest are presented with many opportunities to collect points against mid and lower table sides ahead of showdowns with Marseille and Rennes in the final fortnight, but having won just one of their last six Ligue 1 away trips against bottom half clubs at the start of this round (D3, L2), they’ll be taking nothing for granted here.
Players to watch: Mounaïm El Idrissy remains the only player other than the injured Youcef Belaïli to have scored in two Ajaccio home wins this Ligue 1 season. Similarly influential in triumphs, Brest striker Jérémy Le Douaron has contributed goals to five league victories for his club in 2022/23.
Hot stat: No club had lost more Ligue 1 games as a home outsider than Ajaccio (W1, D1, L8) prior to this round.