Auxerre and Rodez AF will look to put their respective league struggles aside when they meet at the Stade de l'Abbe-Deschamps in the last 16 of the Coupe de France on Wednesday.
While Auxerre find themselves second from bottom in the Ligue 1 table, Rodez occupy 19th place in the Ligue 2 standings, so both sides will be eager to pick up a positive result in the cup.
Match preview
Thanks to a goalless draw with Reims, Auxerre ended a seven-game losing streak in Ligue 1 on Sunday, although the Burgundy outfit remain in a perilous position in the top-flight table.
Not only have Auxerre failed to win any of their last nine league outings, but they have also failed to win 17 of their previous 18, suffering 13 defeats in the process.
When you look at the bigger picture, Christophe Pelissier's men have managed to win just three of their 22 Ligue 1 clashes this season, and they are also the joint-lowest scorers in the division having netted 18 goals.
After kicking off their Coupe de France campaign with a penalty-shootout victory over third-tier club Dunkerque, Auxerre booked their place in the last 16 with a 4-0 thrashing of Ligue 2 outfit Niort.
It is worth remembering that Auxerre clinched four Coupe de France triumphs in 12 seasons between 1993-94 and 2004-05, but they have made it past the last 16 on just two occasions since then.
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Unlike Auxerre, Rodez have made it through four ties to reach the last 16 of the Coupe de France, and the second-tier side have claimed some notable scalps along the way.
After knocking out six-time winners Saint-Etienne, Rodez dispatched FC Roche Saint-Genest before beating five-time winners Monaco on penalties to punch their ticket to the last 32.
The Blood and Gold secured another penalty shootout win in the previous round, defeating RC Grasse to continue their fairytale run in the competition, thanks largely to the exploits of goalkeeper Sebastien Cibois.
However, Rodez have not been able to replicate their Coupe de France heroics in the league this season, meaning that Didier Santini's side find themselves level with last-placed Niort on 20 points in the Ligue 2 table.
Having won two of their previous 14 Ligue 2 matches – and four of their 22 league outings this term – Rodez could struggle to deal with Auxerre, regardless of Auxerre's lowly position in the top-flight standings.
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Team News
Bournemouth loanee Siriki Dembele made his debut for Auxerre in Sunday's draw against Reims, coming off the bench late on, so the winger could be handed his first start for the club on Wednesday.
Following the recent departure of goalkeeper Benoit Costil, Ionut Radu will continue to start between the sticks, having registered a much-needed clean sheet last time out.
Twenty-year-old midfielder Kays Ruiz-Atil looks set to remain on the sidelines for the foreseeable future, while experienced centre-back Theo Pellenard is a long-term injury absentee.
Rodez will be without the injured Loris Mouyokolo on Wednesday, although Joris Chougrani is expected to feature after coming off the bench in last week's 2-1 defeat to Sochaux.
Having netted his sixth goal of the campaign last time out, top scorer Clement Depres will lead the line for the visitors, with Lorient loanee Sambou Soumano expected to support Depres in attack.
Auxerre possible starting lineup:
Radu; Raveloson, Jubal, Toure, Mensah; Massengo, Toure; Hein, Autret, Da Costa; Abline
Rodez AF possible starting lineup:
Cibois; Boma, Abdennour, Danger; Senaya, Boissier, Rajot, Abdullah; Adeline; Depres, Soumano
We say: Auxerre 2-1 Rodez AF
Buoyed by putting an end to their lengthy Ligue 1 losing streak, Auxerre will be confident of dispatching Rodez on home soil, with the top-flight team expected to overcome the second-tier strugglers.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Morris
