St Etienne vs Auxerre Predictions & Tips

St. Etienne secured a point on the final day of the regular season which gave them to opportunity to extend their 18-year stay in Ligue 1 through the relegation play-off. The first leg finished 1-1 at Stade de L’abbe-Deschamps on Thursday, and with the away goal rule still in place for the play-offs in France, St. Etienne significantly have the upper hand in this tie. One goal may be enough for the hosts to get the job done on Thursday and there is plenty of cause for optimism – Pascal Dupraz’s side have scored in each of their last nine home matches.

Uphill task for second tier Auxerre

Auxerre have plenty to overcome if they are to secure a return to French footballs topflight. Playing away from home in front of a partisan crowd, against a team from a higher division who have the benefit of an away goal to lean on – Jean-Marc Furlan’s side have it all to do on Thursday. Auxerre haven’t lost on the road in 2022 which is a huge feather in their cap, and I expect the visitors to find the net on Thursday, something they have done in each of their last eight matches away from home.

Both teams likely to score

This tie is so finely poised, and an early goal will change the complexion of the contest massively. Both teams scored on Thursday and there looks to be every chance of that feat repeating itself at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on Sunday evening. Both teams have scored in St. Etienne’s last five home matches, whilst both teams have found the net in each of Auxerre’s last six away matches – we look to be set for a barnstormer on Sunday.

St. Etienne to win and both teams to score will be the main selection for the second leg of this Ligue 1 relegation play-off final. The hosts should have enough to see off Auxerre and make great appeal in the win and both teams to score market at around the 4/1 mark. St. Etienne’s last home win came by way of a 2-1 score line against Brest and a repeat of that result will form the correct score prediction for this one.