Preview: Auxerre vs. Clermont - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors have had an excellent second season at this level of football, picking up 49 points to sit eighth in the table, while Auxerre occupy 15th position, just one point ahead of 17th-placed Nantes.

Match preview

Auxerre secured a return to the top flight of French football through last season's Ligue 2 playoffs, so any position above 17th would be considered a very successful campaign for the club.

As it stands, AJA are 15th, boasting 33 points from their 33 matches courtesy of a record of eight wins, nine draws and 16 defeats, which has left them just one point ahead of 17th-placed Nantes.

Christophe Pelissier's side won three straight games against Troyes, Ajaccio and Nantes between April 1 and April 16, before picking up a welcome point at home to Lille on April 22.

However, Auxerre will enter this match off the back of a 2-1 defeat at Marseille, and they will now be taking on a Clermont side full of confidence due to an excellent run of form.

Pelissier's side suffered a 2-1 loss to Clermont in the first ever Ligue 1 meeting between the two sides earlier this season, while they were also beaten in both Ligue 2 fixtures in 2020-21.

Not too many would have predicted the type of season that Clermont would enjoy, as Les Lanciers only just avoided relegation from Ligue 1 last term, finishing down in 17th position in the table.

This is only the team's second-ever campaign at this level of football, and a brilliant season has left them in eighth position in the table, boasting 49 points from their 33 matches.

Pascal Gastien's side have not been beaten in the league since the middle of March, winning their last five against Ajaccio, Troyes, Angers, Nice and Reims to rise up the table.

Clermont are 10 points behind fifth-placed Lille, so a European spot is surely beyond them, but they have already guaranteed their status at this level for another campaign, which was always the main goal.

The Lancers have picked up 25 points from their 16 away league games this term, and they will be travelling to an Auxerre outfit that have collected just 21 points on home soil in 2022-23.

Auxerre Ligue 1 form:

L

W

W

W

D

L

Clermont Ligue 1 form:

L

W

W

W

W

W

Team News

Auxerre will again be missing Han-Noah Massengo due to a calf injury, but the home side will welcome Isaak Toure back into their squad following a suspension.

Toure is expected to return to the team's back three for this contest, but it might otherwise be the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against Marseille.

Nuno da Costa and M'Baye Niang have 10 league goals between them this season and are set to continue in the final third of the field for Auxerre.

Clermont, meanwhile, will be without the services of Mateusz Wieteska due to the red card that he picked up in the 1-0 success over Reims last time out.

Wieteska's absence in the middle of the defence is likely to open the door for Cheick Konate to start.

Muhammed Cham and Grejohn Kyei have both scored seven league goals during the current season, and the pair will again be in the XI, while Elbasan Rashani should also feature in the final third of the field.

Auxerre possible starting lineup:

Radu; Jeanvier, Jubal, I Toure; Raveloson, M'Changama, B Toure, Zedadka; Hein, Niang, Da Costa

Clermont possible starting lineup:

Diaw; Ogier, Konate, Caufriez; Zeffane, Gonalons, Gastien, Allevinah; Cham, Kyei, Rashani

We say: Auxerre 1-2 Clermont

Clermont's winning run is going to come to an end at some stage, but we are backing it to be extended this weekend. The Lancers have won their last three games against Auxerre, and the visitors have enough quality to secure another success on Sunday afternoon.

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