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

Troyes sit three points and six places above their visitors this weekend and are looking to get back to winning ways after their entertaining defeat at OGC Nice last time out.

Match preview

Two goals in the final eight minutes from Xavier Chavalerin and Abdu Conte set up a nervy finish in Troyes' last game, but Nice were able to hold on to the three points courtesy of goals from Mattia Viti, Andy Delort and Nicolas Pepe.

That defeat meant that ESTAC have only won one of their last five games, and their last home win came back in August against struggling Angers.

Home goals have been hard to come by, with just six of their 18 strikes coming at the Stade de l'Aube, but they have not conceded many there either - only seven of the 21 goals they have let in have come at home.

After avoiding relegation by a mere six points last season, Troyes were looking to build on that and have started relatively strongly, having notched impressive wins at Monaco and Clermont Foot earlier in the season.

They are yet to keep a clean sheet, which might be music to the ears of the Ajaccio players who have found it difficult to put the ball in the net anywhere this season - they have scored just seven times in their 10 games so far.

The Corsican side struggled initially after promotion to the top tier of French football last season but have recovered well in recent weeks with that win in Marseille following victory in Brest a couple of weeks ago.

Dimitri Payet had given Marseille the lead but L'ours equalised through Bevic Moussiti-Oko before grabbing the winner just after half time through a Leonardo Balerdi own goal.

They are the league's lowest scorers but should have gained some confidence from the recent victories, and could even leapfrog their opponents this weekend if they win by more than three goals.

Troyes Ligue 1 form:

W

D

L

W

D

L

Ajaccio Ligue 1 form:

L

L

L

W

L

W

Team News

Troyes should welcome Rony Lopes back into the starting 11 after he made his return from a muscle injury from the substitutes' bench last weekend.

If they are to revert back to playing two up front, Mama Balde could be partnered by Ike Ugbo, who came on in the final minutes of the defeat in Nice, or Renaud Ripart.

Gauthier Gallon will keep his place in goal and will be looking for his first clean sheet of the season, with the experienced Adil Rami in front of him.

Ajaccio could make some changes of their own as they could welcome back Fernand Mayembo, Romain Hamouma and Qazim Laci.

They all missed the win last weekend so could take up their places on the bench, as Ajaccio manager Olivier Pantaloni has no new injury concerns to deal with.

Troyes possible starting lineup:

Gallon; Yade, Salmier, Rami, Palmer-Brown, Bruus; Ripart, Tardieu, Kouame, Lopes; Balde

Ajaccio possible starting lineup:

Leroy; Kone, Avinel, Gonzalez, Youssouf; Nouri, Coutadeur, Marchetti, Bayala; Moussiti-Oko, El Idrissy

We say: Troyes 1-2 Ajaccio

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