Before the round – Trends on France Ligue 1 (16/04)

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Ligue 1 will play round No 31 this weekend. Lens have clawed back to within six points of league leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

Meanwhile, just eight points separate 19th-place Ajaccio and 15th-place Auxerre. Four teams will be relegated in Ligue 1 this season, making this a difficult stretch for teams.

Auxerre – Nantes

Nantes are unbeaten in five of their last six matches against Auxerre. Earlier this season, the Canaries defeated Auxerre 1-0 at home. Nantes go into the game in poor form, as they failed to win their last seven matches in the competition.

Auxerre are just three points ahead of the relegation zone going into round No 31. The team is on a two-match winning streak and could rescue the season.

Nantes' winless streak has them slipping down the standings. The Canaries are 14th and five points above the relegation zone. Sunday’s match is a relegation six-pointer.

• AJ Auxerre haven't lost a match in 8 of their last 9 matches in Ligue 1.
• FC Nantes have won just 3 of their last 24 away matches in Ligue 1.
• The average number of goals scored by AJ Auxerre is 0.86 for their home matches in Ligue 1.
• FC Nantes have achieved just 2 wins of their last 19 away Ligue 1 games.
• Prediction: Under 2.5 goals

Clermont Foot – Angers

Clermont Foot claimed a 2-1 win over Angers away from home earlier this season. Clermont are unbeaten in their last four games versus Angers in all competitions.

Angers are bottom of the Ligue 1 table with 14 points from 30 matches. The Black and White would have to win nearly all of their remaining games to stay in Ligue 1 for next season. Angers took just four points from the last six matches.

Clermont Foot are on a two-game winning streak. The team is comfortable in midtable with 40 points from 30 matches. Clermont took 10 points from the last 18 points on offer.

• Clermont Foot have achieved just 1 wins of their last 6 home Ligue 1 games.
• There have been 3 straight away losses in HT/FT in Ligue 1 for Angers SCO.
• Clermont Foot are conceding an average of 1.73 goals in their home games (Ligue 1).
• Angers SCO have won just 1 of their last 20 away matches in Ligue 1.
• Prediction: Clermont Foot

Stade Brestois – Nice

Brest threw away a 1-0 lead over Reims last weekend. The dropped points prevented the Pirates from moving further away from the relegation zone. Brest lost each of their last four matches in Ligue 1 against Nice. Can they a point on Sunday?

Nice will play in the Europa Conference League on Thursday. Their midweek game could help Breast on Sunday. Nice are winless in their last five matches in Ligue 1, drawing four and losing one.

Brest are unbeaten in their last three fixtures, drawing two and winning once. The Pirates have won just three times at home this season. Nice went unbeaten in their last six away fixtures.

• Stade Brestois have managed just 3 wins in their last 16 home league games.
• OGC Nice are on a run of 6 consecutive away undefeated matches in their domestic league.
• Stade Brestois have managed to win just 1 of their 9 most recent encounters with OGC Nice (Ligue 1).
• In OGC Nice's last 3 Ligue 1 matches, there have been under 2.5 goals.
• Prediction: Draw

Strasbourg – Ajaccio

The home team is unbeaten in six straight matches in all competitions between Strasbourg and Ajaccio. Ajaccio claimed a home win, 4-2, over Strasbourg earlier this season. The last two matches between the clubs had identical 4-2 scorelines.

Sunday’s match in Strasbourg is a Ligue 1 relegation six-pointer. Both clubs are in the bottom four. Only Strasbourg could move outside the relegation zone with a win. However, Strasbourg are on a two-game losing streak in Ligue 1.

Ajaccio are on a five-game losing streak in the division. They took just three points from the last 18 points on offer. Ajaccio failed to score seven of their last nine Ligue 1 games.

• Strasbourg's form hasn't been good, as the team has won only 5 of their last 31 matches (Ligue 1).
• AC Ajaccio have lost their last 5 Ligue 1 games.
• Strasbourg have conceded an average of 1.73 goals in their league games.
• AC Ajaccio have won just 1 of their last 10 away matches in Ligue 1.
• Prediction: Strasbourg