Auxerre vs Montpellier prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2025-03-29 15:15.
[p]A run of one defeat in six games before the international break (W2, D3) means Auxerre are edging closer to a second successive season in Ligue 1. A last-gasp equaliser against Nice last time out leaves Christophe Pélissier’s side 11 points clear of the bottom three ahead of the round, although the manager is refusing to admit his team are safe from the drop just yet, cautiously warning that they are simply in a “favourable” position.[/p]
[p]Despite his fears, a top-half finish in Ligue 1 – something AJA last managed in 2010/11 – is still possible, but a run of one win in seven at home in the league (D5, L1) is damaging those ambitions. The visit of basement side Montpellier will be viewed as a favourable fixture on paper then, but Auxerre have struggled against lowly sides this term, winning none of their four games against teams in the relegation zone pre-round (D1, L3).[/p]
[p]One of those defeats came in the reverse fixture, when Montpellier emerged 3-2 victors to secure a fourth victory across the last five H2Hs (L1). That is one of only four successes across the entire league season for a club who are now eight points from safety, after their last match against St-Étienne was abandoned due to a fire being started in the stands by Montpellier fans.[/p]
[p]La Paillade were trailing 2-0 when the players left the field, meaning they were almost certainly heading for a seventh successive defeat. Things are so bad that manager Jean-Louis Gasset has admitted that they have “no hope” of staying up, and he even tried to resign during the international break, only for the club to turn down his request, insisting he stays at the helm until the end of the campaign.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Auxerre’s Elisha Owusu has committed more fouls (47) than any other player in Ligue 1 this season ahead of the round. Montpellier’s Téji Savanier is also a constant thorn in the referee’s side, collecting five yellow cards and a red in his 14 personal career H2Hs.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: A league-low three of Montpellier’s 12 away games this season have seen both teams score.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Matt Jones[/i][/p]