Nantes vs Auxerre prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2024-08-24 15:00.
[p]Nantesâ impotent strike force was one of the reasons why they struggled in Ligue 1 last season, only narrowly avoiding finishing in the relegation spots come the end of the campaign by just four points. The Canaries were the second lowest scorers in the division in 2023/24, and a 0-0 draw against Toulouse in their opening game will have done little to convince fans a better campaign is in store.[/p]
[p]Manager Antoine KombouarĂ© admitted that his side lacked âaggressiveness offensivelyâ in that outing, so may be tempted to shake up his strike force for the visit of Auxerre. Mostafa Mohamed, top scorer last season, is gunning for a start after coming off the bench, but the omens are not good for Nantes ahead of this outing as theyâve won their opening home game in only two of the last eight seasons (D2, L4).[/p]
[p]Their visitors will be hoping to extend that record, especially after marking their return to the top flight after a one-year absence by registering a dramatic 2-1 victory over Nice last weekend, courtesy of a 90th minute winner. Manager Christophe PĂ©lissier is now determined to repeat that result, as he looks to prove that his side wonât âlet ourselves be eatenâ after being promoted as Ligue 2 champions.[/p]
[p]To do that, their away form will have to be much better than their most recent campaign in Franceâs top-flight (2022/23), when they lost 12 of their 19 fixtures on the road (W3, D4). Auxerre also have a miserable record at Stade de la Beaujoire to overcome in order to grab a positive result on this latest visit, as theyâve failed to win an away H2H in the league at this venue since 2002 (D3, L4).[/p]
[p]Key battle: Nantes goalkeeper Alban Lafont has kept a clean sheet in his previous two personal home H2Hs, with his side winning each match 1-0. Looking to end that record will be Auxerreâs new striker Theo Bair, who has netted first or last in seven of his last ten goalscoring appearances.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Auxerre have won each of their last three competitive games in which they have conceded first.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Matt Jones[/i][/p]