Dunkerque vs Auxerre Prediction 29.04.2024

• Competition: France - Ligue 2
• Date: Monday, 29th, April 2024
• Kickoff: 19:45 UTC +1 / 20.45 CEST
• Venue: Stade Marcel Tribut (Dunkerque)

Eager to bolster their path towards top-flight promotion, league leaders Auxerre will visit relegation-threatened Dunkerque at Stade Marcel-Tribut on Monday evening for a Ligue 1 clash.

Dunkerque vs Auxerre Betting Tips: UNDER 2.5

Seeing their fellow strugglers in the relegation zone falter in their weekend battles, except for rock-bottom Valenciennes who are already doomed, Dunkerque is presented with an opportunity to make a significant stride towards achieving their desired goal - survival.

However, the prospects of Les Maritimes picking up a positive result here seem rather slim, as they have been stuck in a rut in recent weeks, earning just four out of a possible 15 points and collapsing to three losses in that tough period.

While comfortably out of the relegation risk zone, holding a four-point cushion above the bottom four, boss Luis Castro has reason to fret over his side's lack of attacking verve, having oversaw them rattle the net just twice over the past five Ligue 2 matches. Alarmingly, both goals came in the late stages of their contests, while each of their last five matches at Marcel-Tribut ended with fewer than 2.5 goals.

Enduring back-to-back setbacks in the form of a thriller seven-goal loss against Quevilly Rouen and a disappointing 0-2 defeat to Rodez, league leaders Auxerre bounced back to winning ways in emphatic fashion last time out by dismantling playoff hopefuls Laval with a convincing 4-0 victory in front of their home crowd.

Despite unexpected stumbles, the Burgundian outfit still holds the driver's seat in the title race, just one point off the closest pursuer, St. Etienne, with a game in hand. While aiming to cement their spot for automatic promotion, the visitors will be troubled by recent difficulties away from home, having been defeated in three out of their last four trips.

The initial clash between these two sides earlier this season was decided deep into injury time when Boissier's 96th-minute winner guided his Dunkirk side to their first-ever victory over Auxerre, putting an end to their five-game losing streak in H2H matchups.

Another tightly contested and low-scoring affair could be on the cards on Monday in northern France, supported by the fact that Pelissier's men have seen four of their last five second-tier road games with under 2.5 goals. Ultimately, we support the league leaders to find a way to come out on top in the ineffective contest.