Angers vs St Etienne Prediction & Betting Tips (26 October)

Being promoted to the next level was a great reward for Angers following its good last season in Ligue 2, but adapting to the elite is very difficult. The SCO results confirm this. Alexandre Dujeux's team is the only one in the championship not to have won after 8 days. She is relegated by her 17th place with 4 points taken. The Angevins suffered a setback at home to Reims 1-3 then a good 1-1 draw in Marseille before the international break. They returned to the competition with a new trip, to Toulouse last weekend, and another sharing of points 1-1. Also promoted, ASSE is doing better than its opponent of the day even if its record is not the most flattering.

Saint-Etienne is 14th in the ranking, a small point from 16th position, that of virtual roadblock. The Greens saw the international break cut them off. They effectively remained with a draw in Nantes 2-2 and a victory on their lawn against Auxerre 3-1. Getting back to business was much more difficult. The Forez club was beaten at home by Lens 0-2 on the last day. 

On the Angevin side, full-back Raolisoa, with little playing time, is serving his second and penultimate match of suspension. Missing are the young attackers Kalumba (no matches) and Chérif (no goals in 5 matches) as well as defender Hountondji (now a substitute), all in treatment. Midfielder Lopy (no match) and winger Ferhat (1 goal) risk being too tight, as does left-back Ekomié. On the other hand, starting midfielder Belkebla could return to the group. Touched during the last day, number 1 goalkeeper Fofana hopes to be able to hold his place in goal. Scorer in Toulouse, Niane scored his first goal of the season.

The list of absent players is also long in Saint-Etienne. The left back Cornud, the experienced Briançon (defender) and Monconduit (midfielder), the striker Wadji (no goals in 2 matches) and the offensive New Zealand international Old (no goals in 6 matches) will all go from missing again. Right-back Maçon, a potential starter on his side, resumed collective training at the start of the week and could return to the group. Georgian winger Davitashvili is Saint-Etienne's top scorer with 3 goals to his name.