Marseille vs Auxerre prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-04-29 18:45.
Marseille are doing their best to ensure Ligue 1’s title race is alive for as long as possible and look set to exceed their 71 point tally from last season following a 2-1 win away to Lyon. That came courtesy of a dramatic stoppage-time own goal that Marseille manager Igor Tudor described as “why people love football”. They continue to cling on to second place (and the Champions League slot that comes with it) after completing two months without a league loss (W4, D3).
The hosts only three Ligue 1 defeats against any club other than PSG have all been at home (Lens, Nice and Ajaccio), and thus nothing is guaranteed when a determined and in-form Auxerre visit the Stade Vélodrome, particularly when they’ve had to work hard for their points recently after conceding goals in seven of their last nine league outings. In fact, six of Marseille’s eight home wins this league campaign were without clean sheets, a testament to one of France’s most productive attacking units.
Had they travelled to Marseille four months ago, Auxerre could have been on the wrong end of a rugby-like score! The decision to turn to Christophe PĂ©lissier initially appeared to have been a disastrous one as the Burgundy-based club conceded 20 goals in seven straight defeats, dropping into the relegation zone.
Approaching the end of April, their survival is now all but mathematically assured following an outstanding turnaround that has seen them suffer fewer league losses than any other club since February 3rd (W5, D5, L1). Pélissier publicly “congratulated” his team for their 1-1 draw at home to Lille, who were a top-four club on the day, but taking points here will require another step up in performance after Auxerre lost all eight Ligue 1 away trips against teams to start this round ninth or higher (aggregate: 24-6).
Players to watch: Cengiz Ünder has been scoring more frequently for Marseille lately, and having won his last eight Ligue 1 games when doing so, his club will certainly hope he continues. Similarly, Nuno Da Costa found the back of the net before half-time in each of Auxerre’s last two victories.
Hot streak: PĂ©lissier has lost all eight of his personal meetings with Marseille (agg: 20-5).