Auxerre vs Reims Prediction & Betting Tips (20 October)

Being promoted is never easy and the trajectory that Auxerre is taking after 7 days in Ligue 1 confirms it. Home winners of Nice 2-1 during the first day and Brest 3-0 on September 27, the Auxerrois took no points in the 5 other matches they played. Recently, they notably lost to a Montpellier team 3-2 that was adrift and away against a promoted Saint-Etienne 3-1. With 6 points, AJA is in 14th place, just in front of the relegation zone which it will want to avoid on the evening of the 34th day. Opposite, Reims is one of the teams in good form.

The Marnais drew up a record of 4 victories, 2 draws and a defeat before the 8th day. The same results as Marseille 3rd which precedes them by one position in the ranking. After defeating PSG 1-1 in September, Luka Elsner's squad recorded goal-rich victories before the international break ahead of promoted Angevin 1-3 and Montpellier 4-2. Not yet beaten on the road, Reims have scored at least one goal in their last 6 Ligue 1 matches. 

The AJA deplores the absences of the leading midfielder Owusu, suspended for having accumulated 3 yellow cards in less than 10 matches, of the defender Agouzoul who has not yet appeared this season in competition and of the young Ivorian midfielder Coulibaly whose injury will keep him away from the field for several more month. Executive full-back Joly adds to these defections. Hit in one knee, he will be absent for around a month and a half, much to the chagrin of Christophe Pélissier. It remains to be seen whether starting defender Jubal, absent on the last day, will recover from his injury. Hamed Traoré has scored 2 goals in the last 3 Ligue 1 matches.

Not one, but two players will be suspended for this trip: the holders Fofana in midfield and Diakité (2 goals) in attack. The latter notably scored 2 goals this season in the championship, including against Montpellier before the international break. In addition, midfielder Khadra (substitute), Moscardo (no match, loaned by PSG) and defender Koné who has been on the sidelines for several weeks will be out due to injuries. Despite the absence of Diakité up front, Reims will be able to rely on its Japanese Nakamura (4 goals) and Ito (2 goals).