On Saturday evening, Valenciennes and Auxerre clash at the Stade du Hainaut in Ligue 2 in their opening game of the new campaign.
The home team heads into this clash on the back of a poor recent run of form, as they have won just one of their previous five games in all competitions, including pre-season friendlies.
Entraînement à la maison à l’approche de #VAFCAJA ! 📍🏟️ pic.twitter.com/ORocemcwIK— Valenciennes FC 🦢 (@VAFC) August 2, 2023
Entraînement à la maison à l’approche de #VAFCAJA ! 📍🏟️ pic.twitter.com/ORocemcwIK
Their recent games have been relatively low-scoring, as six of their last eight matches have produced under 2.5 goals.
The fact that Valenciennes have failed to score in three of their last five matches has been a big factor in the poor recent run.
Valenciennes ended last season with a mixed run of form in the French top flight, although a 2-0 last-day defeat at Saint-Etienne ended a four-game winless run in Ligue 2.
A 1-0 win over Grenoble in their last home game in Ligue 2 ended a run of seven matches on home soil in the French top flight without a victory.
The visitors suffered relegation from Ligue One last season after finishing just a point adrift from safety.
Auxerre enjoyed a decent pre-season campaign, as they are unbeaten in three games, having recorded two wins and a draw.
They have also scored at least two goals in all three of their pre-season matches.
Auxerre’s last stint in Ligue 2 was in season 2021/22 when they won promotion via a penalty shootout win over Sochaux.
The visitors are nine games unbeaten in Ligue 2, having won six of their previous eight games in the league.
They are also unbeaten in 11 away games in the French second tier, winning five of their last seven league matches on their travels.
Forebet predicts that these two teams will produce a tight, low-scoring draw.