Auxerre vs Lens Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Following promotion to the top-flight last season, Auxerre have enjoyed a bright start to the campaign as they now take on Will Still’s inconsistent Lens side this weekend.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 14th December, 2024: UK – 6:00pm / US ET – 1:00pm / US PT – 10:00am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports
Auxerre Preview: Overperforming expectations
As would be the case for every newly-promoted side, Auxerre would be a side that would be tupped up for a relegation battle but they have been able to try and even push into the top-half of Ligue 1 so far this season under the management of Christophe Pelissier.
The home team come into this one on the back of an impressive goalless draw at home to defending champions and runaway league leaders Paris Saint-Germain in their most recent outing last weekend. That means they have now suffered just one defeat in seven matches.
Lens Preview: Looking at Lens
English-Belgian coach Will Still replaced Franck Haise at Lens over the summer after his departure from Stade de Reims and the northerners have been slowly adapting to his style as they sit just outside of the top six but have been improving in recent weeks.
The northerners defeated Montpellier Herault by two goals to nil last weekend at Stade Bollaert-Delelis with a first-half strike from Remy Labeau Lascary and a late own goal from Benjamin Lecomte. They have now managed three victories in their last four matches.
Auxerre Team News: Several injuries
The home team are dealing with several injury concerns for this weekend’s visit of Lens. They have defensive injuries such as Saad Agouzoul and Ange Loic N’Gatta as well as attacking absentees like Ousmane Camara and summer signing Lasso Coulibaly.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Leon; Osho, Jubal, Akpa; Hoever, Owusu, Danois, Mensah; Perrin, Traore; Sinayoko
Unavailable: Agouzoul (Injured), N’Gatta (Injured), Camara (Injured), Coulibaly (Injured), Zossou (Injured)
Questionable:
Lens Team News: No Deiver Machado
Lens are dealing with a few issues and wing-back Deiver Machado is sidelined through suspension for this weekend. As well as the defender, they are also without key men such as Ruben Aguilar and Martin Satriano.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Samba; Frankowski, Danso, Khusanov, Jhoanner Chavez; Thomasson, Diouf; Lascary, Fulgini, Zaroury; Nzola
Unavailable: Deiver Machado (Suspended), Aguilar (Injured), Cabot (Injured), Satriano (Injured)
Questionable: Medina (Injured)
Auxerre vs Lens Prediction
In their 14 matches so far this season, Auxerre have been quite entertaining throughout the campaign with 42 goals coming at an average of three goals per game even with that aforementioned goalless draw against PSG last weekend. They face a Lens side that have switched from a back three to a 4-2-3-1 system with a more attacking style of football and both teams scoring would appear a good bet for this one at Stade l’Abbe Descamps.
Auxerre vs Lens Tip: Both teams to score
