Two sides in the Ligue 1 relegation zone will go head-to-head on Wednesday when Ajaccio play host to Angers.

Ajaccio picked up four points from their previous two games before the World Cup break, while the visitors have lost their last seven league matches.

Match preview

After winning promotion to the top flight last season, Ajaccio found it hard to adjust to their new surroundings, picking up only one point from their opening seven games.

They offered signs of improvement before the World Cup break, with their last eight league games yielding three wins, two draws and three defeats.

Although they have picked up four points from their previous two encounters, Ajaccio would have been disappointed to spurn a two-goal lead against Nantes to draw 2-2 in their final game before Ligue 1 paused for the tournament in Qatar.

Ajaccio have prepared for the return to competitive action with a couple of promising results after they followed a narrow 1-0 victory over Saint-Etienne with a 4-0 win against Niger.

With one point separating them from safety, Olivier Pantaloni's side will now turn their attention to a relegation fight, and they have the chance to claim consecutive home victories in Ligue 1 for the first time this season, as they look to begin the second half of the campaign on a positive note.

Angers have a mountain to climb if they are to avoid the drop this season after picking up just eight points from their opening 15 league games.

They are currently bottom of the table and are without a permanent manager following the sacking of Gerard Baticle at the end of November.

Baticle was relieved of his duties after a run of seven consecutive defeats in Ligue 1, leaving them five points adrift of safety, and Abdel Bouhazama has subsequently been put in charge of the side on an interim basis.

Wednesday's visitors have played four friendlies during December, with defeats to Union Saint-Gilloise and Chamois Niortais followed by a 2-2 draw against Auxerre and a 2-1 win over Stade Lavallois.

With Angers currently holding the worst defensive record in the top flight after shipping 34 goals in 15 games, they will be keen to return to competitive action with a resolute display.

Team News

Ajaccio will be without the services of Clement Vidal and Cedric Avinel, with the two defenders both set to serve the final match of their respective suspension periods.

Oumar Gonzalez and Youssouf Kone are also suspended for Wednesday's game due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

Fernand Mayembo has only made four appearances this season because of injury, but he is expected to be fit enough to feature in the centre of defence.

As for the visitors, Sofiane Boufal and Azzedine Ounahi have been given some time off after helping Morocco finish in fourth place at the 2022 World Cup, and as a result, the pair are expected to miss Wednesday's contest.

They will also be unable to call upon Lois Diony who is a long-term injury absentee, while Ulrick Eneme-Ella is still yet to make his debut due to an injury issue after signing from Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer.

Amine Salama will look to add to the three goals that he has scored this season, and he could be joined in the forward line by Abdallah Sima.

Ajaccio possible starting lineup:
Leroy; Youssouf, Mayembo, Diallo, Alphonse; Nouri, Marchetti, Coutadeur, Belaili; El Idrissy, Hamouma

Angers possible starting lineup:
Fofana; Valery, Blazic, Amadou, Hountondji, Doumbia; Mendy, Bentaleb, Hunou; Sima, Salama

We say: Ajaccio 1-2 Angers

Although they have lost their last seven league games, we think that the World Cup break may have helped Angers reset before the return to competitive action, and we believe that they may be able to claim a narrow victory against another side that are in the relegation zone.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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