Auxerre vs Monaco Prediction & Betting Tips (14 September)

AJ Auxerre is making its comeback in Ligue 1 this season after spending a year in Ligue 2. The players led by Christophe Pélissier, who were retained despite relegation at the end of the 2022-2023 season, triumphed in Ligue 2 in ahead of SCO Angers and AS Saint-Étienne, which allowed them to immediately move up into the elite. In the process, the Burgundians signed a notable victory against OGC Nice 2-1. However, they recently experienced their first defeat of the season when they lost to Nantes 2-0, followed by a second consecutive defeat against Le Havre 3-1. Last season, AS Monaco shone in Ligue 1 finishing in 2nd place, far behind PSG 9 points apart, but with a comfortable lead over their direct pursuers 6 points.

For the current financial year, the Monegasque club aspires to maintain this level of performance and potentially challenge PSG more seriously, despite the heavy task of the Champions League that awaits them. Adi Hütter's men started the season well by winning their first two matches. After a narrow 1-0 victory against promoted Saint-Etienne, they dominated Lyon 0-2 last weekend, although the last match before the break saw a tie against Lens 1-1.

The main loss for the Auxerre team during this transfer window is the departure of Gautier Hein, who scored 11 goals and provided 9 assists in Ligue 2, and who returned to Metz. Winger Soumaré (on loan from Le Havre) as well as Colin Dagba (on loan from PSG) also left AJA, as did center forward Ousmane Camara, who impressed in Annecy with 6 goals and 2 assists in 15 games, and who has now headed to Castellon. However, the team has strengthened its ranks with the arrival of striker Theo Bair, who scored 15 goals and distributed 6 assists with Motherwell last year, right midfielder Lasso Coulibaly (from Nordsjaelland), and defenders Osho (from Luton Town), Sinaly Diomandé (on loan from Lyon), and Ki-Jana Hoever (on loan from Wolverhampton). This week, midfielder Hamed Junior Traoré also joined the club on loan from Bournemouth. Key players from last season such as Raveloson (4 goals, 6 assists), Perrin (7 goals, 10 assists), Sinayoko (8 goals, 4 assists), and Ayé (10 goals, 5 assists) remain on the team. 'team. For this match, important defenders Mensah and Agouzoul are unavailable due to injuries, as are young talents N'Gatta, Buayi-Kiala and Coulibaly. In addition, the excellent Onaiwu, who scored 15 goals last season, will be suspended after an expulsion during the match against Nantes. This summer, AS Monaco saw several of its key players leave.

Wissam Ben Yedder, the star striker, left the club, while Boadu (on loan to Bochum), as well as midfielders Camara (Al-Sadd), Lemaréchal (Strasbourg) and Fofana (AC Milan) also took over. direction of new horizons. In defense, Maripan signed with Torino and Jakobs with Galatasaray. However, two players returned after loans: central defender Matsima (Clermont) and midfielder Matazo (Royal Antwerp). Monegasque recruiters have set their sights on several targets, including defender Mawissa (Toulouse), promising winger Teze (PSV Eindhoven), midfielder Lamine Camara (Metz), as well as attackers Ilenikhena (Royal Antwerp) and Brunner (Dortmund ). Despite these departures, the team retains strong elements with Golovin (6 goals, 6 assists last year), the Swiss internationals Zakaria and Embolo, the Japanese Minamino (9 goals, 6 assists), the American Balogun (7 goals , 5 assists) and the young nugget Akliouche (7 goals, 4 assists). On the other hand, goalkeeper Majecki and the less used Diop are currently injured.