Auxerre vs Lille Prediction: Auxerre are no pushovers

Auxerre welcomes Lille to the Stade de l’Abbe-Deschamps for their second meeting in the Ligue 1 and the 32nd fixture. Auxerre will be looking to claim maximum points as they are only 3 points away from the relegation zone with just 6 games to go this season. Lille are in 5th place, but face a close competition from Rennes in 6th. Both will aim to qualify for the Europa Conference League, which is a position Lille are currently occupying and they cannot afford any more slip ups. Lille were big winners in their previous meeting against Auxerre as they won by 4-1. 

Auxerre have been in fine form in their last 3 matches, winning all 3 games in a row. Prior to that, they were without a win in three successive games, but they seemed to have turned things around. Their last match ended in a 2-1 victory against Nantes on this ground. Jubal and Nuno Da Costa scored two goals in the first half to give Auxerre confidence and in the second half, Mostafa Mohammed pulled one back for the visitors. But the Auxerre team were resilient to keep their lead till the end of the game. Auxerre had just 31% possession, 7 shots on target and 3 corner kicks by the end of 90 minutes. Auxerre are currently in 14th place, with 32 points from 31 matches. They won 8, drew 8 and lost 15 and their goal ratio is 29:52.

Team streak: wins (3), less than 2.5 goals (5/7), first to score (5/7), less than 4.5 cards (5/6), less than 10.5 corners (8/9).

• Goals per game (0.9)
• Big chances per game (1.4)
• Big chances missed per game (0.8)
• Total shots per game (11.0)
• Shots on target per game (3.2)
• Clean sheets (7)
• Goals conceded per game (1.7)
• Offsides per game (1.3)
• Fouls per game (12.3)
• Yellow cards per game (1.4)
• Red Cards (6)

Lille are fighting to maintain the 5th position on the table in order to play european football next season. They returned to winning ways last weekend after losing to Angers in the previous match. In their recent match, they won Montpellier 2-1 and their hopes of getting European football are still alive. Montpellier were first to open the scoring in 24 minutes through Issiaga Sylla and Lille struggled to get back in it for most parts of the game. But in the 70th and 72nd minute they scored two quick goals through Jonathan David and Remy Cabella to seal the win. Lille were the better team according to statistics. They had 69% possession, 7 shots on target and 8 corner kicks. Lille are in 5th position, with 55 points from 31 matches. They won 16, drew 7 and lost 8 matches and their goal ratio is 56:39.

Team streak: without a clean sheet (3), both teams scoring (6/8).

• Goals per game (1.8)
• Big chances per game (2.9)
• Big chances missed per game (1.8)
• Total shots per game (15.3)
• Shots on target per game (6.0)
• Clean sheets (8)
• Goals conceded per game (1.3)
• Offsides per game (1.7)
• Fouls per game (13.4)
• Yellow cards per game (2.2)
• Red Cards (1)

Auxerre and Lille have both played against each other 20 times prior to this match. Lille have 9 wins, while Auxerre have 7 wins and 4 matches ended in a draw.

• There were more than 2.5 goals in 4/5 meetings.
• Both teams scored in 5/6 meetings.
• There were less than 4.5 cards in 10/10 meetings.

• Auxerre (3-4-2-1): Donovan Leon, Julian Jeanvier, Jubal, Souleymane Issak Toure, Ryan Raveloson, Youssouf MÇhangama, Birama Toure, Akim Zedadka, Gauthier Hein, Gaetan Perrin, Nuno Da Costa.
• Lille (4-2-3-1): Lucas Chevalier, Timothy Weah, Jose Fonte, Alexsandro Ribeiro, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Benjamin Andre, Andre Gomes, Remy Cabella, Angel Gomes, Jonathan Bamba, Jonathan David.

Given what’s at stake for both teams, I expect them to come into this match with the desire for all 3 points. Auxerre look serious about staying away from the relegation zone and Lille want to avoid dropping to 6th. So both teams will play to win. Both teams scoring has occurred in 5/6 matches played between these two and I think that outcome is likely going to happen again here.

• Bet on More than 2 Goals at 1.71 Odds
• Bet on Both Teams to Score at 2.1 Odds
• Bet on Correct Score 1-2 at 8.5 Odds