Auxerre vs Lille Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Following promotion, Auxerre have overperformed so far this season as they now take on a Lille side that returned to Ligue 1 action after the winter break with a bit of a slow restart last week.
Kick-off date/time: Friday 10th January, 2025: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports
Auxerre Preview: The overperformers
Auxerre come into this one on the back of returning from the winter break with a disappointing performance in the Alsace region. They were beaten 3-1 by a struggling Strasbourg side, despite taking a 14th minute lead via AFC Bournemouth loanee Hamed Junior Traore.
Under the management of Christophe Pelissier, the Burgundy-based club have overperformed in the opening few months of the campaign as they begin the weekend sitting tucked inside the top-half, despite a slow-ish start to the 2024/25 Ligue 1 season.
Lille Preview: Difficult to beat
Following the departure of Paulo Fonseca, former Olympique Lyonnais and Stade Rennais boss Bruno Genesio took charge at Lille and he has continued their difficult to beat core with a pleasant to watch style of football as they compete both domestically and on the continent.
However, they were fairly slow to restart last weekend as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Nantes at Stade Pierre-Mauroy last weekend with Gabriel Gudmundsson’s 47th minute opener being cancelled out by a Matthis Abline penalty in the 70th minute of that match.
Auxerre Team News: Osho injury
Former Luton Town centre-back Gabriel Osho is now missing due to injury for this weekend, whilst key midfielder Rayan Raveloson is now missing through suspension with other absentees including first-choice goalkeeper Donovan Leon.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): De Percin; Diomande, Jubal, Akpa; Hoever, Owusu, Diousse, Mensah; Perrin, Sinayoko, Traore
Unavailable: Leon (Injured), Osho (Injured), N’Gatta (Injured), Raveloson (Suspended), Danois (Injured), Coulibaly (Injured)
Questionable:
Lille Team News: Bakker suspension
Key wing-back Mitchel Bakker is missing through suspension for the northerners this weekend. As well as the absence of Bakker, they also have key injury absentees such as Tiago Santos, Ethan Mbappe and Kosovo international attacker Edon Zhegrova.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Chevalier; Mandi, Diakite, Alexsandro, Gudmundsson; Andre, Mukau; Fernandez-Pardo, Haraldsson, Cabella; David
Unavailable: Santos (Injured), Umtiti (Injured), Bakker (Suspended), Bentaleb (Illness), Mbappe (Injured), Zhegrova (Injured)
Questionable: Fernandez-Pardo (Injured)
Auxerre vs Lille Prediction
Auxerre have shown themselves to be capable of challenging anyone in Ligue 1, even earning themselves a goalless draw against defending champions and runaway league leaders Paris Saint-Germain a few weeks ago. They looked poor last weekend, though, and now face a Lille side that are unbeaten in their last 18 matches across all competitions and the visitors would be firm favourites for this one.
Auxerre vs Lille Tip: Lille to win
