Prediction ES Sétif vs USM Alger 2025/2026 season – Betting Tips for the Ligue 1 on 16/10/2025

Match context and form

The upcoming Ligue 1 clash in Sétif has intrigue despite modest league positions: ES Sétif host USM Alger at the Stade du 8 Mai 1945 on 16/10/2025 in what should be a low-key but tactically interesting duel. Both sides arrive on the back of a run packed with draws; ES Sétif have collected four draws from seven matches this season while USM Alger have seen four draws from six. That pattern has left both teams level on seven points, ES Sétif sitting 14th and USM Alger 12th, so there is a tangible sense that neither side has been able to consistently turn performances into victories.

Recent results underline a lack of cutting edge. ES Sétif have won only once in their seven league outings and have struggled for goals, scoring six while conceding nine. Their sequence shows pockets of resilience — several draws and that solitary home win against CS Constantine — but also back-to-back defeats earlier in the campaign. USM Alger offer a similar story of tight contests: six matches, just one loss and one win, and a total of four goals scored and four conceded. Their away record suggests solidity rather than explosive attacking threat.

Style and statistical clues

The underlying numbers point to cagey affairs. ES Sétif average a healthy 98.29 attacks and 66.86 dangerous attacks, representing a team that attempts to build pressure but converts that work into only a handful of goals so far. They have registered 28 shots on target overall and an average of 11.29 shots per match, yet only four goals on home soil indicate inefficiency in the final third. USM Alger, by contrast, show fewer overall attacking actions — an average of 56.5 attacks and 45.17 dangerous attacks — but have managed to keep two clean sheets already and present a compact defensive profile. Corner averages for both teams are similar and discipline is comparable, which reinforces the likelihood of a tight game rather than an open goal-fest.

Head-to-head history is fresh and marginal: their most recent meeting ended 1-0 to USM Alger in June, another indicator that matches between these two are decided by fine margins. The sequence of draws in both teams’ latest results further supports the expectation of a match where one goal might be decisive or where both sides cancel each other out.

Betting suggestion: Given the low scoring numbers, frequent draws and modest attacking returns from both sides, the market that best fits the data is the goal market. The recommended bet is Under 2.5 goals. This selection aligns with the teams’ collective trend of tight, low-scoring affairs and the recent head-to-head and seasonal statistics indicating limited finishing.