Auxerre vs Rennes Prediction & Betting Tips (22 February)

Auxerre welcome Rennes to the Stade de l’Abbé-Deschamps in a clash that feels heavier than a typical mid-season Ligue 1 fixture. Christophe Pélissier’s side have tightened up recently, grinding out goalless draws against Paris FC and Toulouse, yet they have also suffered narrow defeats against Paris Saint-Germain and Lens, including a 1-0 loss in the north. A more worrying sign is the 2-0 reverse away to Brest, reflected in that 2-0 scoreline, which underlines how fragile Auxerre can look once they fall behind. At home, though, they still believe their structure and crowd energy can drag them away from the relegation battle and turn this into a statement performance.

Rennes arrive with one of the most volatile recent storylines in France. In the last few weeks they stunned Paris Saint-Germain with a 3-1 victory, a result that briefly shook up the title race and reminded everyone of their attacking ceiling. That performance contrasted sharply with the heavy defeats that followed, including a bruising night at Lens and a comprehensive loss at Marseille, where the Bretons were outplayed in every department. Off the pitch, the club have also had to cope with defensive reshuffles and the news of young defender Jacquet suffering a serious shoulder injury, further stretching an already tested back line.

The broader context around Rennes is one of transition and resilience. They have oscillated between high-energy pressing masterclasses and disjointed displays, such as the collapse at Monaco and the home defeat to Lorient, which exposed gaps between midfield and defence. Yet that same squad produced a controlled win over PSG and showed, in spells, that they can still dominate possession and create chances from wide areas. Auxerre, meanwhile, cling to the positives of their more compact outings and the memory of brighter attacking days, like their home success against Monaco by 3-1. With injuries on both sides—Sierralta, El Azzouzi and others for Auxerre, plus Jacquet for Rennes—the tactical adjustments from the two benches could define the rhythm of this encounter.

All of this recent form and news points toward a match where Rennes’ higher ceiling edges out Auxerre’s growing but still fragile solidity. Auxerre’s inability to consistently convert half-chances, combined with Rennes’ capacity to strike in bursts, suggests a game in which the visitors may ride out early pressure before punishing mistakes on the break. The memory of their recent high-profile win over PSG, echoed in that 3-1 scoreline, reinforces the sense that Rennes can still rise to the occasion. Balancing Auxerre’s home grit against Rennes’ attacking spikes, a narrow away success feels the likeliest outcome, with a predicted correct score of 1-2 in favour of the visit