Happy New Year, football fans! The year 2025 ushers in a very interesting Round 16 of Ligue 1, with Strasbourg hosting Auxerre. Both have been fighting the unpredictable currents of midtable competition, with Strasbourg sitting 13th and Auxerre seated a bit higher in 8th. This contest looks to be one of tactics, with every point possibly setting the course of each team's respective season path. Will Strasbourg continue its late climb, or will Auxerre's rigid approach steal the headlines?
Leave your thoughts in the comments below—how do you see this tactical battle unfolding?
Claim Your Welcome BonusStrasbourg
Under Liam Rosenior, who has been at the helm of affairs, the campaign has been quite inconsistent for Strasbourg. That inconsistency has reflected their position, which is 13th in the league. Still, they have flashes of brilliance, particularly at home. The recent 3-0 thrashing of RC Calais in the Coupe de France underlined their attacking capabilities.
The driving force in Strasbourg's attack is the ability to create chances, though often their backline undoes it. At home, they've managed to score in every game bar one, though their backline has let in an average of 1.8 goals a game-a statistic Rosenior must look to sort out if they are to climb the table.
Or will they depend on their frontline or find their erratic defense making them prone to attack?
Key facts
- Goals Scored/Conceded: 25/27 (1.7 goals/game, 1.8 conceded/game)
- Home Form: 2 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss in the last 5 (WDWLD)
- Corners and Discipline: 3.9 corners/game, 2.1 yellow cards/game
- Clean sheets: 3
Auxerre
This season, under the experience of Christophe Pelissier, Auxerre have struggled to have that killer instincts in front of goal. Having scored 23 goals, the same they have conceded, they have an even record at a time when they do struggle on their travels. A recent 1-0 defeat to Dunkerque in the Coupe de France underlined inconsistency.
Auxerre's defensive structure has earned them four clean sheets, but the lack of potency upfront-they have failed to score in their last two games-could be a cause for concern. Pelissier will likely set them up to frustrate Strasbourg and hope to capitalize on counter-attacks.
Can Auxerre find their goalscoring form away from home?
Key facts
- Goals Scored/Conceded: 23/23 (1.5 goals/game, 1.5 conceded/game)
- Away Form: 1 win, 1 draw, 3 losses in the last 5 (LLDWL)
- Corners and Discipline: 3.7 corners/game, 2.1 yellow cards/game
- Clean Sheets: 4 this season
Head to Head
This is a dead-even match historically, with both teams winning 8 and drawing 4. Recent matches between them have been going in a specific direction.
This rivalry has been underpinned by discipline and defense thus far, so another low-scoring, tight affair cannot be ruled out.
H2H Streaks
- Under 2.5 goals in 6 of the last 7 meetings
- Under 4.5 cards in 9 of the last 10 encounters
History of Head-to-Heads
Ligue 1 2024/2025
Strasbourg
Ligue 1 2024/2025
Auxerre
Ligue 1 2022/2023
Auxerre
Ligue 1 2022/2023
Strasbourg
Ligue 2 2016/2017
Strasbourg
Expert Betting Tips
This match could be tactical chess, with Strasbourg's home turf perhaps playing a vital role in combining with Auxerre's resilience in the backline.
* Strasbourg's momentum in attack: after a comprehensive win of 3-0 would be crucial in this game.
* Auxerre away struggles: Pelissier's men have only managed 1 win in their last 5 on the road, and they need to turn chances into goals.
* H2H Trends Favor Defense: Both teams tend to play cautiously against each other, suggesting a low-scoring affair.
- Under 4.5 Cards: Both sides play disciplined football, with cards rarely exceeding 4 in their meetings. (Bet365: 1.61 Odds)
- Strasbourg Win or Draw: Strasbourg’s strong home form gives them the edge to avoid defeat. (1xbet: 1.30 Odds)
- Under 2.5 Goals: Both teams have struggled to find the net consistently, and H2H stats heavily favor this outcome. (Betway: 2.00 Odds)
Other predictions
