Lille vs Auxerre – News and Probable Lineups

Lille will face Auxerre on Sunday evening as they aim for a win that would secure third place in the Ligue 1 standings and a spot in the Champions League.

On the other hand, Auxerre finds themselves in a tight contest to escape relegation playoffs, but a victory at Stade Pierre-Mauroy would ensure they finish no lower than 15th.

Match overview

As Paris Saint-Germain and Lens continue their championship battle, Lille’s best possible outcome has been settling for third place.

It has taken a 13-match unbeaten run since February 6 for Bruno Genesio’s side to position themselves such that a single win would return them to the Champions League.

Their last match saw a 1-0 win over Mônaco, marking their eighth success during this stretch, with Lille accumulating one point more (29 to 28) than PSG during this sequence.

Notably, Lille has conceded only five goals, allowing at least six fewer than any other team in the league.

Even so, a loss against Auxerre, coupled with wins for Lyon and Rennes, would result in Lille finishing fifth, underscoring the need to avoid complacency against opponents fighting to stay up in Ligue 2.

Credit to Auxerre, as they are among only three teams in Ligue 1 that have triumphed in their last two matches.

Following a 2-1 victory against Angers, Christopher Pelissier’s team secured a potentially crucial 3-1 win over Nice, moving ahead of them on goal difference.

A win on Sunday would guarantee maximum points for Auxerre, who enjoy an +11 goal difference over Nice, while a draw would give Nice a chance to surpass them if they beat Metz.

Auxerre has suffered just one defeat in their last seven matches, which occurred in a 3-2 loss at Lyon, but they’ve only managed nine points from 16 away matches.

Nonetheless, six of these points have come from their last six away games, indicating their confidence heading into this match against their more prestigious rivals.

Team News

Nabil Bentaleb is eager to reclaim a starting role in Lille’s midfield after returning from injury in the previous match.

If the Argélia international is reinstated, Ayyoub Bouaddi might miss out, but Genesio is not anticipated to make significant changes following the win at Mônaco.

Ousmane Toure and Hamza Igamane are set to be sidelined for this fixture, while Marius Broholm’s participation remains uncertain.

Following his substitution in the 13th minute against Nice, Bryan Okoh is a clear injury concern for the heart of Auxerre’s defence.

If he is unable to play, Clement Akpa would likely step in, but the remainder of the Auxerre lineup could remain unchanged unless Fredrik Oppegard or Romain Faivre are available.

Lille probable starting XI:

Author; Meunier, Ngoy, Mandi, Perraud; Bentaleb, Andre; Mukau, Haraldsson, Correia; Fernandez-Pardo

Auxerre probable starting XI:

Lion; Sy, Demand, Acpa, Message; Ahmada, Owusu, Danish; Sinayoko, Mara, Namaso

With the visitors on a two-match winning streak, they will feel confident about pulling off an upset in this away fixture. However, considering the potential uncertainty depending on Nice’s performance, we anticipate Lille to capitalize and secure a convincing win.