Auxerre vs Marseille prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2025-02-21 20:05.
[p]Auxerre’s ambitions to climb into the top half of the Ligue 1 standings have been stifled by defensive issues. Despite their attacking unit scoring 2+ goals in at least three consecutive league games for the second time this season, a defence which has conceded at least twice in all three of those games means they came away with just two league points. [/p]
[p]It’s certainly not ideal form at the back as they prepare to take on the league’s second-most prolific goalscorers, Marseille. Auxerre can take inspiration from winning the reverse H2H 3-1, but that was in the midst of winning five of seven Ligue 1 matches, which is worlds away from what is currently their joint-longest winless stretch in all competition (D6, L5) since 2010/11.[/p]
[p]Marseille therefore might not be in serious trouble of losing twice to Auxerre in the same Ligue 1 season for the first time since 1987/88. They’re running out of time to catch up to runaway league leaders PSG but have done all they can so far in February with three league victories. Following their 5-1 win over Saint-Étienne last round, Marseille boss Roberto de Zerbi pointed to the 3-1 loss to Auxerre earlier this season as reason to continue working hard and avoid complacency. [/p]
[p]They’ve been consistent winners on the road throughout the season, triumphing in nine of their 11 Ligue 1 away games this campaign (L2), following a 2-0 victory at Angers earlier this month. In fact, since their last meeting with Auxerre, Marseille lost only to fellow top-four contenders Nice (2-0 away), whilst scoring in every other game (W8, D2) demonstrating an improvement in their attacking capabilities over the course of the season. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Hamed Junior Traoré continues to delight Auxerre’s home supporters, scoring in five separate home games and remaining unbeaten in all five (W3, D2). Marseille won all six competitive games this season in which Adrien Rabiot scored, four of them against newly-promoted opposition. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Auxerre lost only one of their nine Ligue 1 home games as the pre-match outsider this season. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Aaron Murphy[/i][/p]