Fellow strugglers Auxerre and Troyes are separated by just two points ahead of their crucial Ligue 1 basement battle on Saturday afternoon.
Given that Auxerre and Troyes find themselves in the relegation zone with 10 games remaining, both sides will be desperate to pick up a positive result at the Stade Abbe-Deschamps.
Match preview
Auxerre sit one point inside the bottom four and head into Saturday's clash on a three-game winless run, with draws against Nice and Rennes preceding a 2-0 defeat at Strasbourg before the international break.
When you look at the bigger picture, Christophe Pelissier's men have managed to win just two of their previous 15 Ligue 1 outings, recording five draws and eight defeats along the way.
It is worth noting, however, that Auxerre have only lost one of their last seven league games, picking up two wins and four draws between early February and mid-March to enhance their chances of beating the drop.
Still, there is no hiding the fact that Auxerre hold the fifth-worst home record in Ligue 1, having taken 14 points from a possible 39 at the Stade Abbe-Deschamps this season.
Although the Burgundy outfit also have the third-worst defensive record in the division, they can take confidence from the fact that Troyes are one of the two teams with a poorer defensive record this term.
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Indeed, Patrick Kisnorbo's side have conceded a whopping 61 goals across their 28 league matches this season, while no team has conceded more away goals than Troyes' 39.
With that in mind, it is easy to understand why Troyes find themselves third from bottom in the Ligue 1 table, as only relegation-doomed Angers have a poorer defensive record than the Grand Est outfit.
Troyes are currently enduring an 11-match winless run in the league, having recorded three draws and eight defeats since their last victory, with a five-game losing streak across January and February damaging the club's chances of survival.
Worse still, Kisnorbo's men have collected a solitary Ligue 1 win since October, meaning that Troyes have tasted victory on just one occasion in their previous 20 league encounters.
Given that no team has suffered more away defeats than Troyes' 11 this term, the club from the Champagne wine region will be desperate to toast to a fourth away win of the campaign before it is too late.
Team News
Long-term absentee Theo Pellenard looks set to remain in Auxerre's treatment room for the foreseeable future, while Hamza Sakhi (ankle) and Elisha Owusu (Achilles) are also expected to miss Saturday's showdown.
Including own goals, nine different players have scored Auxerre's previous nine league goals, so Christophe Pelissier will be eager for his forwards to discover some consistency.
Gaetan Perrin, Nuno Da Costa and M'Baye Niang have all netted three Ligue 1 goals this season, while Mathias Autret has chipped in with two goals and two assists.
For the visitors, Jackson Porozo (groin) and Florian Tardieu (Achilles) remain sidelined due to injury, leaving Troyes light in both defence and midfield.
Veteran centre-back Adil Rami will continue to captain the team, while Mama Balde – who has bagged 10 goals and four assists in the league this term – will continue to lead the line.
Auxerre possible starting lineup:
Radu; Raveloson, Jubal, Toure; Zedadka, Massengo, Toure, Mensah; Dembele, Perrin, Abline
Troyes possible starting lineup:
Gallon; Palmer-Brown, Rami, Salmier; Balde, Agoume, Kouame, Conte; Lopes, Ripart; Balde
We say: Auxerre 1-0 Troyes
Having lost just one of their last seven league matches, Auxerre should have what it takes to edge out fellow strugglers Troyes, who have lost each of their previous five away encounters.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
