Preview: Auxerre vs. Ajaccio - prediction, team news, lineups

Both sides are currently sitting in the relegation zone, but a victory for either team could see them climb out of the bottom four.

Match preview

Following the dismissal of Jean-Marc Furlan just over two weeks ago, Auxerre 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.

Although Les Bleu et Blanc have had no problems finding the net in recent weeks, scoring in each of their last five matches, a run of eight Ligue 1 games without a win has seen them slip to 18th in the table, including last weekend's 2-1 loss away at Reims.

Pelissier, who has been out of work since leaving Lorient in the summer, will be aware that there is little separating a number of sides in the bottom half of the table and a victory on Sunday could see them climb to as high as 13th place.

Auxerre have two favourable-looking fixtures against Ajaccio and Troyes up next before a tricky trip to league leaders Paris Saint-Germain on November 13 in their final game before the World Cup break, and Pelissier is sure to target at least six points from this run.

Les Bleu et Blanc are unbeaten in their last six meetings with Ajaccio, but they have only won one of their last eight Ligue 1 home games against newly-promoted teams. That victory, however, was a 4-1 success against Ajaccio back in August 2011.

Ajaccio unsurprisingly suffered their eighth defeat of the campaign last weekend at the hands of PSG, with star forwards Kylian Mbappe (2) and Lionel Messi both finding the net.

However, prior to this loss, the Bears accumulated seven points across their previous four Ligue 1 fixtures, including two away wins over Brest and Marseille and a 1-1 draw away against Troyes.

Olivier Pantaloni, who has been in charge of Ajaccio since 2014, has witnessed a much-needed revival from his side in recent weeks, and he will be optimistic about their chances of continuing their upturn in form as they prepare for three successive fixtures against teams 15th or lower in the table.

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. A win over Auxerre is required, though, if they wish to climb out of the bottom four.

Auxerre Ligue 1 form:

L

L

D

L

D

L

Ajaccio Ligue 1 form:

L

W

L

W

D

L

Team News

Auxerre defender Theo Pellenard remains sidelined with a long-term knee injury, while Youssouf M'Changama (calf) and Brayann Pereira (knock) are both doubtful and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.

Pelissier may decide to stick with a back four of Paul Joly, Jubal, Julian Jeanvier and Quentin Bernard, with Birama Toure set to continue in a holding midfield role.

Gauthier Hein could return to the starting lineup at the expense of Lassine Sinayoko, joining Nuno da Costa and M'Baye Niang in the front three.

As for Ajaccio, they are unable to call upon Yoann Touzghar (ankle) and Qazim Laci (hamstring) due to injury, while Fernand Mayembo is doubtful with an unspecified issue.

After recovering from a knee injury, Romain Hamouma came on as a substitute for the final half-hour against PSG, and the 35-year-old forward will now be hoping to force his way into the first XI ahead of Bevic Moussiti-Oko.

Full-backs Mickael Alphonse and Ismael Diallo were both benched last weekend, but they could be recalled at the expense of Mohamed Youssouf and Youssouf Kone respectively.

Auxerre possible starting lineup:

Costil; Joly, Jubal, Jeanvier, Bernard; Raveloson, Toure, Sakhi; Hein, Niang, Da Costa

Ajaccio possible starting lineup:

Leroy; Alphonse, Gonzalez, Avinel, Diallo; Bayala, Marchetti, Coutadeur, Belaili; El Idrissy, Hamouma

We say: Auxerre 0-1 Ajaccio

Considering the last three meetings between these two sides have all ended goalless, a closely-fought contest could be on the cards this weekend.

However, Ajaccio appear to have turned a corner away from home and we can see them snatching all three points with a slender victory.

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