Brest vs Auxerre prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-05-13 13:00.
Brest and Auxerre must be ruing the timing of the decision to reduce Ligue 1 to 18 teams because if only three sides were going down, both would be on the verge of being safe from relegation. As it is, they’re battling with Nantes and Strasbourg to avoid finishing fourth from bottom, so this clash has an enormous amount riding on it, especially after Brest lost 2-1 last weekend to Lorient.
Although that was their first defeat in seven league games (W3, D3) now is a bad time to lose form with just four games remaining, including two against teams up at the sharp end of the standings in Marseille and Rennes. Confidence should be high that they can avoid the drop as three of those fixtures are at home, where they’ve won each of their last three games and are unbeaten across the last four H2Hs (W2, D2).
After Auxerre were held to a 1-1 draw by Clermont last weekend, their winless run stretched to three matches (D2, L1) and left them two points above 17th-placed Nantes. With games against both PSG and Lens to come, their run-in looks harder than Brest’s, making getting something here vitally important, although as coach Christophe Pélissier says, they still have their destiny in their hands.
Given their poor recent record in Brittany, this is a tricky place to come for them, but they’ve been able to get on the front foot away from home recently, scoring first in four of their last five league road games (W2, D1, L2), which should encourage them as they continue their quest to avoid an immediate return to Ligue 2.
Players to watch: Jérémy Le Douaron has scored in each of Brest’s last three home games, twice between the tenth and 20th minute. Similarly, Auxerre captain Birama Touré has led by example of late by netting the opener in both of his side’s last two games away from home.
Hot streak: The last seven H2Hs here all produced under 2.5 goals (Brest: W3, D2, L2).