Two sides separated by just one point in the Ligue 1 relegation zone will square off this weekend when Auxerre welcomes Ajaccio to Stade de l’Abbé Deschamps in the 13th round of the competition. Kickoffs on October 30 at 15:00 EAT.
After the dismissal of Jean-Marc Furlan erly this month, the hosts confirmed the appointment of Christophe Pelissier as their new manager on Wednesday, with the 57-year-old tasked with steering last season’s Ligue 2 playoff winners out of the relegation zone. Auxerre has two favorable-looking fixtures against Ajaccio and Troyes up next before a tricky trip to league leaders Paris Saint-Germain on November 13.
AJ Auxerre will be hoping to make amends following 2-1 Ligue 1 defeat at the hands of Reims. In that match, AJ Auxerre managed 46% possession, 11 shots with two of them on target and a goal scored by M’Baye Niang (33′). Reims got 19 shots with 10 of them on target and goals by Folarin Balogun (28′) and Junya Ito (87′).
Meanwhile, Goals have been hard to come by for Ajaccio so far this season as they have netted just eight times in 12 Ligue 1 matches, the fewest in the division and their joint-worst tally at this stage of a top-flight campaign since 2013-14 when they finished bottom. However, five of those goals have come in their last five away games and securing at least a draw on Sunday would seem them extend their unbeaten run on the road to four matches.
AC Ajaccio will seek to bounce back here after 0-3 Ligue 1 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in their most recent game. In that match, AC Ajaccio managed 35% possession and eight shots with one of them on target. Paris Saint-Germain got 11 shots with six of them on target and goals by Kylian Mbappé (24′, 82′) and Lionel Messi (78′).
Auxerre vs. Ajaccio head to head
Each side claims nine victories from the 27 head to head encounters between Auxerre and Ajaccio since 2002; while the other nine matches ended in draws.
- AC Ajaccio 0-0 Auxerre 8/01/22
- Auxerre 0-0 AC Ajaccio 07/08/21
- AC Ajaccio 0-0 Auxerre 05/02/21
- Auxerre 5-1 AC Ajaccio 03/10/20
- AC Ajaccio 2-3 Auxerre 07/02/20
Home
- Reims 2-1 Auxerre
- Auxerre 1-1 Nice
- Clermont Foot 2-1 Auxerre
- Auxerre 1-1 Brest
- Auxerre 1-3 Lorient
Away
- AC Ajaccio 0-3 PSG
- Troyes 1-1 AC Ajaccio
- Marseille 1-2 AC Ajaccio
- AC Ajaccio 1-3 Clermont Foot
- Brest 0-1 AC Ajaccio
Auxerre team news
Michel Padovani will take to the pitch without Theo Pellenard who remains sidelined with a long-term injury, while Youssouf M’Changama and Brayann Pereira are doubts due to injuries as well.
Ajaccio team news
As for Olivier Pantaloni, Yoann Touzghar and Qazim Laci will be unavailable due to injuries, while Fernand Mayembo is a doubt.
Prediction and odds
- Ajaccio Win
- Draw
- Both teams to score
