Angers vs Lorient prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2022-12-31 14:00.
They may have replaced their manager, but it was same old, same old for rock-bottom Angers as they made a losing return in their first game back after the World Cup. Abdel Bouhazama took the reins following the dismissal of Gérald Baticle and oversaw a 1-0 defeat to fellow-strugglers Ajaccio on Wednesday, a club record eighth successive top-flight reversal. While getting points on the board again will be at the forefront of minds at the Stade Raymond Kopa, the sad recent passing of Brazil icon Pelé will also be in the thoughts of Ligue 1 fans and players, as French football looks to come together to honour Pelé’s life and career, in which he won a record three World Cups.
Last Wednesday’s result means the Black and Whites remain stranded at the foot of Ligue 1, and their lengthy list of absentees still includes Moroccan pair Sofiane Boufal and Azz-Eddine Ounahi, who are yet to return after Qatar 2022. That makes Bouhazama’s task of tightening up a defence which has conceded more goals (35) than anybody else in the division even tougher, with his side striving to avoid Ligue 2 football for the first time since 2015.
Perhaps the visit of Lorient can spark some life out of Angers, who have picked up five wins in nine league clashes between the two sides at the Stade Raymond Kopa (D3, L1). That will be no easy feat though, given Les Merlus are unbeaten in their last five away games (W3, D2), while their tally of 15 points on the road (W4, D3, L1) is bettered only by PSG and Monaco.
Yet manager Régis Le Bris appeared unhappy with his side's performances recently, admitting they are playing “10%, 20% or 30% below what we can produce.” That remark is perhaps of little surprise considering Lorient’s 2-0 defeat to Montpellier on Thursday was a sixth league game without a victory for his side (D3, L3), although their stunning start to the campaign means one of Ligue 1’s surprise packages remain in touch with the European places.
Key battle: Goalkeeper Paul Bernardoni returned to Angers’ starting line-up on Wednesday, but has only kept one clean sheet in his last nine home league appearances (W1, D2, L6). He’ll be looking to thwart Lorient’s top scorer Terem Moffi, who has netted ten times in 15 Ligue 1 games this season, but won on just two of his last 11 away goalscoring league appearances (D3, L6).
Hot stat: Just two of the nine league goals Angers have scored at home this season have come before half-time.