Auxerre vs Saint-Etienne predictions: French play-off set to be a thriller

Auxerre and Saint-Etienne meet on Thursday in the first match of a two-legged tussle to decide who will play in Ligue 1 next season.

Auxerre finished just a point shy of automatic promotion from the second tier but quickly put that disappointment behind them, coming through a semi-final against Sochaux on penalties and are now 180 minutes away from returning to the top flight. 

Standing in their way are Saint-Etienne, who are looking to avoid dropping into Ligue 2 for the first time in 18 years. 

Both sides will be desperate to ensure Ligue 1 football next season in what looks likely to be an enthralling tie. 

Team news

Auxerre will again be without defender Theo Pellenard through injury so Jubal is likely to retain his place at the back from their win over Sochaux on Friday. 

Manager Jean-Marc Furlan is unlikely to make wholesale changes from the side that came through that semi-final. 

Saint-Etienne have a clean bill of health and so Pascal Dupraz will be able to put his strongest team out in this crucial clash. 

The stats

Saint-Etienne have struggled defensively all season, with only Bordeaux conceding more than their 77 goals in Ligue 1. 

Both teams have also scored in nine of Les Verts' last 10 games and the visiting side have a poor record on the road — Dupraz's men having lost 11 of their 19 away games this term.

Auxerre will also take confidence from their head-to-head record against these opponents, with the Burgundy side unbeaten in their last nine meetings with the visitors. 

Captain Wahbi Khazri is Saint-Etienne's top scorer this season, netting 10 league goals despite missing time playing for Tunisia at the Africa Cup of Nations. 

Predictions

Auxerre were wasteful in their goalless draw with Sochaux before progressing in the shootout and will need to improve their finishing in these two crucial games. 

However, they should be able to take advantage of their opponents' poor defensive record. Dupraz's men have not kept a clean sheet in their last 10 matches and face an Auxerre side who have lost just one of their last 17 games. 

Getting the most out of their talisman Khazri will be key for Saint-Etienne's chances of retaining their Ligue 1 status. 

Auxerre's top scorer Gaetan Charbonnier, who netted 17 times in 31 league games this season, is also likely to have a major say in the outcome of this tie. 

The hosts will want to make the most of their first-leg home advantage before travelling south to the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on Sunday, especially given their opponents' poor away record. 

With goals regularly featuring on both sides in Saint-Etienne's recent outings, the same looks likely in what could be an enthralling opening clash of this relegation play-off.