Auxerre vs Nice – News and Probable Lineups

On Saturday evening, Auxerre will host Nice at the Stade de l’Abbe-Deschamps in a vital Ligue 1 relegation clash, with both teams striving to maintain their position in the league as the final two matches of the season approach.

The home team is currently in the relegation play-off position, but a win here would enable them to overtake their opponents in the league standings. Meanwhile, the Eagles are feverishly attempting to steer clear of being pulled into a desperate survival playoff, despite having reached the Coupe de França final.

Match overview

Auxerre approaches this crucial match with a boost in morale after delivering one of their finest performances this season, beating Angers 3-1 to keep their hopes alive for staying in the league.

This victory not only lifted spirits at the club, but also ensured that Christophe Pelissier’s squad remains in close reach of safety as the penultimate matches of the season approach.

The Burgundy team has faced a challenging season overall, spending considerable time near the bottom of the table, but they now understand that a win here would push them above Nice and secure them a spot outside the automatic relegation zone.

Auxerre’s primary challenge throughout the season has been finding the back of the net at home, as only one club has posted fewer goals on their home ground in Ligue 1 this campaign than their modest total of 16.

Nonetheless, the home side seems to be hitting their stride at an opportune time, and they now have the chance to achieve consecutive league wins for the first time since April 2025, while also pursuing back-to-back home victories for the first time since November of last year.

A win in this fixture would guarantee that Pelissier’s side cannot end up in the bottom two this weekend and would also allow for a positional swap with their rivals as they head into the season finale.

In contrast, Nice is experiencing a dismal finish to what has been a particularly lackluster season by their standards. They are, however, preparing for a Coupe de França final against Lens later this month—an event that may serve as an unwanted distraction as their Ligue 1 survival is far from assured.

Les Aiglons come into this match without a league win in their last six outings, having drawn four and lost two during this stretch, with their most recent match ending in a 1-1 draw with Lens.

Ending up in the relegation play-off position would mark a significant decline for a club that finished fourth in the league the previous season, especially as expectations were high at the beginning of this campaign.

Nevertheless, one positive aspect for Franck Haise’s team is their performance against clubs in the lower tier of the table, having won three of four league matches this season against teams currently beneath them.

Nice also has a favorable track record in this matchup, having won the earlier fixture 3-1 this season, and they now seek to complete a league double over Auxerre for the first time since the 2008-09 season.

Yet, their recent away form raises concerns, as the Riviera club has not secured a win in their last three league matches on the road, having drawn two and lost one.

Team News

As Auxerre approaches this significant match, they have several injury concerns following both Danny Namaso and Romain Faivre being forced to exit the pitch during the victory over Angers.

Donovan Leon is still sidelined with a thigh injury, while Oussama El Azzouzi and Nathan Buayi-Kiala are both dealing with knee issues.

Fredrik Oppegard is also under evaluation after experiencing a rib injury, which poses defensive issues for Pelissier as they prepare for Saturday’s encounter.

Sekou Mara, who netted two goals last time out, is expected to continue leading the frontline, with Lassine Sinayoko likely providing support in attack.

For Nice, there is hope that Elye Wahi might be fit in time after missing recent games, although he remains a doubt.

Moise Bombito could once again be absent due to a lower leg injury, while Mohamed Abdelmonem is out with a muscle concern, and Everton Pereira continues to struggle with an ankle injury.

Jonathan Clauss is also a potential absentee after missing the draw against Lens, which may necessitate additional adjustments in the defensive setup.

Auxerre probable starting XI:

Of Percin; Sy, Demand, Okoh, Mensah; Ahmada, Owusu, Danish; Sinayoko, Mara, Cissokho

Nice probable starting XI:

Diouf; Mendy, Bah, Oppong; Louchet, Boudache, Boudaoui, Sanson, Bard; Cho, Diop

With significant stakes for both teams, this matchup promises to be a tense and anxious encounter between two sides desperately seeking confidence.

The momentum from Auxerre’s win last weekend could give them a slight advantage, but Nice has greater individual talent and understands that avoiding defeat would keep them ahead of the home team as the final match day approaches. A draw might not favor either team, but it appears to be the most probable result.