Sports Mole gives a preview of Sunday’s Ligue 1 clash between Auxerre and Angers, including predictions, team news and possible line-ups.
Auxerre and aggravation will both be aiming for their first wins of the 2022-23 Ligue 1 season in Sunday afternoon’s showdown at the Stade de l’Abbe-Deschamps.
The newly promoted hosts were defeated 4-1 by Lille on their return to the top flight, while Les Scoistes’ clash with Nantes ended goalless.
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game preview
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Meeting 2020-21 Ligue 1 champions Lille away was the true definition of a baptism of fire for Auxerre, who became the first casualty of the disaster Paulo Fonseca-led Dogues in a 4-1 game at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
Benjamin Andre‘s flash, two attempts from JonathanDavid and a powerful one Akim Zedadka Strike put Auxerre on the sword before Gaetan Charbonnier scored the goal of the day with a long pass Quentin Bernhard nice down before you loft the ball over Leo Jardim.
Charbonnier’s efforts were nothing more than a consolation to him Jean Marc Furlanwho face a quintet of challenging matches after their Angers clash against Montpellier HSC, Strasbourg, Lyon, Marseille and Rennes.
Keeping AJA going on an extremely tight budget would represent a notable achievement on Furlan’s already voluminous resume and the hosts can take comfort in the fact that Angers visit a stadium where Auxerre have won five of their last six – the breakaway being one 1- 1 draw against Saint-Etienne in the promotion/relegation playoffs.
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There was a flood of goals at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy last weekend but it was a different story at the Stade Raymond Kopa as neither Angers nor Nantes were able to break through the other’s defense in the only goalless draw of Matchday 1.
Alban Lafont and Paul Bernhardoni both were called up to save their side’s goals against in an even game and now a friendly series awaits them Gerald Baticle‘s side as they aim to place a first win on the board.
Brest, Troyes and Reims are all waiting to take on Les Scoistes after Sunday’s clash with Auxerre and Angers has been proud of a bright start to the 2021-22 campaign, although a similar story certainly won’t hurt this time around.
Angers, however, only managed two league wins away from home in the entire 2021/22 season and since the 2-1 win at Reims headquarters in December, the winless streak away currently stands at 10 games.
Auxerre and Angers have not played each other since their Ligue 2 days and Les Scoistes went unbeaten in six League Two games against their upcoming hosts between 2012 and 2015 before making it big again.
Form of Auxerre Ligue 1:
Angers Ligue 1 Form:
Team News
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Auxerre announced this defender earlier this week Theo Pellarard had undergone successful surgery on the ACL injury he sustained last season and will now spend several months rehab.
Furlan should otherwise be working with a full squad apart from the injured Pellenard and, interestingly, the AJA coach limited himself to just two substitutions in the full 90 minutes against Lille.
Former Brest defender Denys Bain hopes he gets a chance to show his stuff in the backline this week, either next door Jubilee or former Brentford man Julian Jeanvier.
As for Angers, the unfortunate ones Sofiane Boufal may be able to return from a hamstring injury this weekend and the same goes for him Himad Abdelliwho was out at the last minute against Nantes with a knee problem.
Ulrich Eneme-Ella and borrowers from Brighton & Hove Albion Abdullah Sima However, both are still missing, with the latter possibly missing until the end of August due to his own hamstring problems.
Baticle will also welcome Nabil Bentaleb back from suspension and the return of the 27-year-old could allow Pierrick Capelle to move wide and edge out Adrian Huno.
Auxerre possible starting line-up:
costile; Pereira, Jubal, Bain, Bernard; Trip; Hein, M’Changama, Sakhi, Autret; Charbonner
Anger’s possible starting line-up:
Bernardoni; Sabanovic, Hountondji, Blazic, Doumbia; Mendy, Bentaleb; Boufal, Ounahi, Capelle; Diony
We say: Auxerre 0-1 Angers
Keeping away the Coupe de France winners was a remarkable feat for Angers, who are keen to prove their weaknesses on the away days are a thing of the past this weekend.
A trip to a leaky Auxerre side is certainly the perfect place to do so and with Boufal and Bentaleb both back in the squad and ready Les Scoistes should do enough to get over the line.
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top tip
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