Ligue 1 | Gameweek 15

Dec 14, 2024 at 6pm UK

Stade de l'Abbe Deschamps

Auxerrevs.Lens

Match preview

Auxerre's dream return to Ligue 1 continued last weekend as a Donovan Leon-inspired performance helped them to a 0-0 draw with PSG.

Going into the game, Christophe Pelissier's side had won four of their last six matches, and last week's draw left them eighth, just three points behind Lens, who occupy the final European spot.

PSG were far from the first team to be frustrated at the Stade de l'Abbe Deschamps in 2024, with Auxerre losing just one of their 17 home games this year.

A 3-0 defeat at the hands of Monaco was their only loss, and PSG became only the second team to avoid defeat at this venue in Auxerre's last 12 games.

However, Lens are a team who love to frustrate their opponents, and Auxerre will be keen to avoid losing consecutive home games against them for the first time in the top flight.

Pelissier does not have the best record against Lens either, having lost five of his seven career meetings with the club in charge.

In a bid to improve on that poor record, the Auxerre coach could opt for a more attacking approach than he employed against PSG last week, as his side look to avoid a third successive game without a goal since January 2023, when they were relegated.

Will Still's men go into the weekend on the back of back-to-back 2-0 wins over Reims and Montpellier, which could see them go on to win three successive games without conceding for the first time in almost two years.

However, with most of the top seven in excellent form, Lens' ability to move up the table has been limited, so it will be important for them to finish strong on the road.

The Parc des Princes is the only away venue where they have lost in seven games this season, which goes some way to explaining why they are just three points off the top four.

The fact that they were so difficult to beat at the start of the campaign helped to ensure that they would be European contenders, but after five successive draws between September and October, the Blood and Gold have now gone seven games without a draw, winning four and losing three.

That is a more favourable run of results than a run of draws, and the gap to the top four could be reduced if Still can maintain the club's good record against Auxerre, who have lost just two of their last 21 meetings.

Recent Performance

Auxerre Ligue 1 form:DWWWLD

Lens Ligue 1 form:LLWLWW

Team News

Pelissier is likely to name an unchanged side after the impressive performance that saw PSG shut out here last weekend.

Ange Loic N'Gatta, Ousoumane Camara and Lasso Coulibaly remain the trio of injured players for the hosts, who have all been out for a number of months.

Auxerre goalkeeper Leon will be at the top of his game for this clash, having been awarded a 10 by L'Equipe for his performance against PSG last weekend, one of the highest accolades a footballer can receive in France.

While the hosts may be a little more attacking, Lens may be a little more defensive this weekend, with Jhoanner Chavez likely to start at left wing-back in place of one of the many attacking players who started against Montpellier.

Wesley Said returns after five games out with an injury, coming on for the final 30 minutes of the 2-0 win over the bottom side.

However, Martin Satriano, Jimmy Cabot and Ruben Aguilar remain sidelined, while Deiver Machado is a doubt after not featuring at all last weekend.

Possible starting lineup

Auxerre possible starting lineup:

Leon; Osho, Jubal, Akpa; Hoever, Owusu, Danois, Mensah; Perrin, Sinayoko, Traore

Lens possible starting lineup:

Samba; Danso, Khusanov, Medina; Frankowski, Thomasson, Diouf, Jhoanner Chavez; Labeau Lascary, Nzola, Zaroury