AC Ajaccio vs Lorient prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2022-09-03 13:00.
It’s been a tough return to Ligue 1 for Ajaccio (D1, L4), who’ve shown the sort of form which will see dreams of repeating their three-season stay in the top-flight last decade quickly fade. They never made as bad a start as this during that period, so manager Olivier Pantaloni, who’s been at the helm of his current club longer than anyone else in Ligue 1, appears up against it already.
In particular he needs to improve his side’s defence as in their previous home match against Lille (L 3-1), they conceded three times from just four shots on target! He might be happy with the fixture computer though, as if there’s one team his side have shown they can defend against, it is Lorient, as they’ve kept clean sheets in two of the last three H2Hs here (W1, D1, L1).
Lorient’s unbeaten start to their Ligue 1 campaign ended on Wednesday night when they were well beaten 5-2 by Lens (W2, D1, L1). With forward Armand Laurienté leaving for Sassuolo, it’s been an underwhelming week for the Brittany-based side, although they have loaned in PSG prospect Kenny Nagera to add some depth upfront.
Prior to that defeat, they were unbeaten in three league away games (W1, D2) but as they seek more of that sort of travelling form, they might not relish this trip to Corsica, as they’re winless in three top-flight trips to the island (D2, L1). It’s a trend that could well continue given that not since October 2020 have they followed up a Ligue 1 away defeat with a win in their subsequent league road fixture!
Players to watch: Each of Ajaccio’s Cyrille Bayala’s last six club goals came after half-time, including one against Lorient, for whom Terem Moffi has four league goals this term, all of them scored between the 20th and 55th minute.
Hot stat: Ajaccio have scored half as many Ligue 1 goals this term (three) as there have been red cards shown in their games (six)!