Angers are in danger of making the wrong kind of Ligue 1 history on Wednesday, when they host Ajaccio at Stade Raymond Kopa.
Over the weekend, Les Scoistes dropped their 12th consecutive domestic fixture, 4-0 at Brest, as they remain at the bottom of the table with eight points, while Ajaccio are in the relegation zone as well, losing 2-0 to Lyon this weekend, their fourth straight loss in this competition.
Match preview
© Reuters
Life under Abdel Bouhazama has not been any better for Angers than it was with his predecessor Gerald Baticle, as this team failed to find the back of the net for the third time in their last five league fixtures on Sunday.
A defeat on Wednesday would officially break a Ligue 1 record for the longest losing run in the history of this competition, a mark that CA Paris set initially in 1933-34 (12) and has since been equalled by Strasbourg (2008-2017), Grenoble (2009) and Dijon (2021).
With only two wins and two draws after 20 domestic affairs, it is the lowest total for them at this stage of a top-flight campaign, and also the worst tally for any Ligue 1 side after 20 matches since Grenoble collected a mere seven points in 2009-10 and were relegated by the end of that season.
Angers might suffer a similar fate, losing six consecutive home games in this competition, while their run of eight successive campaigns in the top-flight is in serious jeopardy.
They have not claimed three points at Stade Raymond Kopa since September, though they have displayed some of their best football at home lately, losing five successive encounters by a single goal.
In those five home outings, Le SCO have let four points slip through their fingers, conceding a winner in injury time versus Rennes last October (2-1) and squandering a 1-0 lead against Lorient to begin 2023 (2-1).
© Reuters
There have not been a lot of positives for Olivier Pantaloni to take away from his side's performances this year, as Ajaccio have been outscored 12-1 in their last four domestic encounters.
Ajaccio made their own history at home to Lyon over the weekend, but like Angers, it is not the kind you want as l'Ours lost for the 13th time in 20 league matches this season, equalling their mark from 2013-14 for the highest tally of defeats to this point of a top-flight campaign.
They are winless in five consecutive road fixtures in this competition, with their previous one easily being their worst display as Ajaccio conceded seven goals in a Ligue 1 contest for the first time since May 1973, losing 7-1 at Monaco.
While the beginning of the calendar year has been difficult for the club from Corsica, there is not as much ground to make up to remain in the top-flight next season, as they currently trail Brest by three points for that final position.
L'Ours have not scored in the opening half of a road fixture in this competition since October when they struck for one in the first 45 minutes versus Marseille and were aided by an own goal from Leonardo Balerdi two minutes into the second half, as they held on for a 2-1 win.
Ajaccio have struggled when visiting Angers, losing their previous three domestic matches played there, all of which occurred when both teams were in Ligue 2, while they have never won a top-flight contest against them away from home.
Team News
© Reuters
Paul Bernardoni has given up multiple goals in every one of his starts for Angers this year, while Sofiane Boufal and Abdallah Sima are the only players who have found the back of the net for them domestically in 2023, though Sima also had an own goal which cost his side a point versus Lorient.
Adrien Hunou, who is second on the team with three goals domestically, one behind Boufal, has not scored in this competition since October, while Ulrick Eneme Ella and Ali Kalla each have knee injuries and Yahia Fofana has a problem with his meniscus.
Ibrahim Amadou and Abdoulaye Bamba have calf strains, Ilyes Chetti could be out for a few more weeks with tenderness in his muscles and Farid El Melali might not be available because of a rib injury.
Youcef Belaili had the only strike for Ajaccio in their lopsided road defeat versus Les Monegasques, and he had the lone strike when they defeated Angers near the end of 2022 as Benjamin Leroy made four stops to preserve a clean sheet on that occasion.
Mickael Barreto could be available despite a sore thigh, Kevin Spadanuda is expected to miss a few more weeks due to a contracture and Mathieu Coutadeur might be fully healed from his calf strain by Wednesday.
Youssouf Kone has a tender ankle, Yoann Touzghar is dealing with a strain injury, while Romain Hamouma may return from his unknown issue.
Angers possible starting lineup:
Bernardoni; Doumbia, Blazic, Houtondji, Sabanovic; Camara, Taibi, Thioub; Hunou, Salama, Sima
Ajaccio possible starting lineup:
Leroy; Youssouf, Gonzalez, Avinel, Diallo; Bayala, Marchetti, Mangani, Belailli; Soumano, Hamouma
We say: Angers 1-0 Ajaccio
As bad as the season has been for Angers, they might be due for one on Wednesday against a side who have been equally poor as them, while Ajaccio could be a little shell-shocked after what happened in their previous road outing at Monaco.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
