TEAM NEWS
Ajaccio midfielder Yann Boe Kane is suspended. They will lack a bit of power in the middle of the pitch without him. Key centre-back Joris Sainati is almost certainly out. He started the season in excellent form and they have been a lot weaker without him in defence.
Auxerre are waiting to hear whether skilful attacker Alexandre Vincent will be fit. They’d be weaker without him as he’s clever on the ball and a good finisher. Left-back Kenji-Van Boto is suspended but the visitors have good cover in defence.
Ajaccio midfielder Yann Boe Kane is suspended. They will lack a bit of power in the middle of the pitch without him. Key centre-back Joris Sainati is almost certainly out. He started the season in excellent form and they have been a lot weaker without him in defence.
Auxerre are waiting to hear whether skilful attacker Alexandre Vincent will be fit. They’d be weaker without him as he’s clever on the ball and a good finisher. Left-back Kenji-Van Boto is suspended but the visitors have good cover in defence.
MATCH PREVIEW
One of the great mysteries in Ligue 2 right now is why an Auxerre side stacked pretty deep with attacking talent is struggling to score goals week after week.
Gaetan Courtet, Yoann Touzghar, Adama Ba, Florian Aye and Alexandre Vincent are all good attacking players in one way or another – yet between them they have contributed just two goals, and Auxerre have netted just five goals in total in seven matches. Their latest lame effort in front of goal came on Saturday afternoon when they lost 1-0 at Brest despite decent possession. Auxerre manager Viorel Moldovan has spoken a lot since he was appointed over the summer about his desire to see his team work hard and be difficult to beat – now it may be time for him to explain how he intends to make his side more inventive and effective in the final third.
The only bright point for Auxerre ahead of this match is they’re facing an Ajaccio side in wretched form. The Corsicans have lost four of their last six matches in all competitions (W1-D1-L4) and their only clean sheet in eight matches in all competitions came at Tours (0-0) on the opening day. That suggests Auxerre should get scoring opportunities but there are still not enough reasons to back the visitors. The draw is the most likely outcome as two struggling sides come face-to-face.
HEAD TO HEAD
Ajaccio’s all-time home record against Auxerre is W5-D2-L1.
One of the great mysteries in Ligue 2 right now is why an Auxerre side stacked pretty deep with attacking talent is struggling to score goals week after week.
Gaetan Courtet, Yoann Touzghar, Adama Ba, Florian Aye and Alexandre Vincent are all good attacking players in one way or another – yet between them they have contributed just two goals, and Auxerre have netted just five goals in total in seven matches. Their latest lame effort in front of goal came on Saturday afternoon when they lost 1-0 at Brest despite decent possession. Auxerre manager Viorel Moldovan has spoken a lot since he was appointed over the summer about his desire to see his team work hard and be difficult to beat – now it may be time for him to explain how he intends to make his side more inventive and effective in the final third.
The only bright point for Auxerre ahead of this match is they’re facing an Ajaccio side in wretched form. The Corsicans have lost four of their last six matches in all competitions (W1-D1-L4) and their only clean sheet in eight matches in all competitions came at Tours (0-0) on the opening day. That suggests Auxerre should get scoring opportunities but there are still not enough reasons to back the visitors. The draw is the most likely outcome as two struggling sides come face-to-face.
HEAD TO HEAD
Ajaccio’s all-time home record against Auxerre is W5-D2-L1.