Nantes vs Auxerre prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2022-12-31 14:00.
This game, forming part of a busy New Year’s Day program, may be looked back upon as decisive in the Ligue 1 battle for survival. Nantes and Auxerre both had a miserable end to the 2022 calendar year, winning just one of their last 12 Ligue 1 games each, collecting just nine and six league points respectively during that period.
With as many as 14 games facing them in January and February, depending on their Coupe de France fortunes, Nantes are facing a tremendously difficult time. Still undefeated as a home favourite this league season (W2, D2), the hosts desperately need to convert their four Ligue 1 games unbeaten at home (W1, D3) into so much more after returning from the break with a 0-0 draw at Troyes, particularly with the expanded four-team relegation zone lurking just one point behind them.
Auxerre’s first multiple-goal haul in a period of 13 Ligue 1 outings could not earn them any points after Monaco’s Eliesse Ben Seghir claimed the lead twice after half-time to condemn them to a 3-2 defeat. The change in management to former Lorient boss Christophe Pélissier, who described that defeat as “a good match” despite costly mistakes, is still yet to pay dividends on the pitch (W1, D1, L2).
The Ligue 1 newbies enter this clash one point behind Nantes in the relegation zone. Perhaps most concerningly, they have fewer points at this stage of the season (13) than they did when last relegated from France’s top flight (15) back in 2011/12. Auxerre also lament one of Ligue 1’s longest active winless away droughts (D1, L5), and by conceding both before and after half-time in four of those five losses, it appears clear where their deficiencies lie.
Players to watch: Winger Moses Simon has featured on the scoresheet in four of the six Ligue 1 home games that Nantes have won or drawn, while M’Baye Niang followed up the five friendly goals he amassed in December with Auxerre’s first goal against Monaco.
Hot streak: Nantes’ last five league games have all produced scoreless first halves.