Wednesday afternoon brings us action from the Algerian Ligue 1 and features this upcoming clash between already relegated Tlemcen and mid-table outfit, ES Setif, when the two teams meet at the Stade Akit Lotfi with the hosts looking to at least avoid another defeat.
Tlemcen have lost their last five league games on the trot and this recent disastrous sequence of results have condemned the hosts to relegation as they sit firmly rooted at the bottom of the Ligue 1 table and find themselves a massive 21 points adrift of safety with just four matches remaining.
Having already had their fate sealed for this season, Tlemcen will be keen to restore some pride as they face next season’s campaign in Ligue 2, but having lost to Saoura, US Biskra, USM Alger, HB Chelghoum Laid and Kabylie respectively, the hosts’ prospects do not look good ahead of the visit from ES Setif.
Indeed, Tlemcen have gained just one win from their last 14 games overall, losing 12 of these, so the hosts look to have their work cut out in this clash.
ES Setif by comparison are currently enjoying the safety of a mid-table position in the Algerian top flight.
But following recent back to back defeats away from home at Belouizdad and RC Arbaa, the visitors will be keen to set the record straight here.
10 points separate ES Setif from 3rd placed Souara and the top three though, so it looks highly likely that Setif will have to make do with just a top half finish in this season’s campaign.
Nevertheless, Setif will be seeking to draw upon their previous form which saw the visitors record three league wins on the trot which came in the form of victories over MC Alger, Olympic Medea and Relizane, the latter being a 7-0 trouncing of their unfortunate opponents that day.
With just six defeats out of their last 17 matches overall in Ligue 1, ES Setif should at the very least, avoid defeat in Wednesday’s trip to face the basement dwellers, Tlemcen.
Especially as the home side have won just two of their last 13 home games which includes no fewer than nine defeats, keeping just two clean sheets and also failing to score in seven of these 13 games as well.
Anything other than a Setif win here therefore, would be a surprise.