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

The visitors, meanwhile, have performed above all expectations so far this season to find themselves in fourth place ahead of the meeting.

Match preview

After gaining seven points from their first four matches, Auxerre have struggled against some of the bigger clubs in Ligue 1 in recent weeks, losing to Lyon, Marseille and Rennes.

The latter and most recent defeat was a particularly damaging one, as Rennes ran out 5-0 winners at Roazhon Park, with four goals coming after the hour mark as Auxerre threw in a late defensive collapse.

However, having been promoted via the play-offs last season, Jean-Marc Furlan's side should not be judged by their performances and results against some of the more successful teams in the division in recent years.

Indeed, against Montpellier, Strasbourg and Angers - three teams Auxerre can more realistically be expected to compete against - they have taken seven points combined, so they will feel confident of gaining a positive result on Friday despite Lorient's excellent form heading into the encounter.

Having finished 16th in each of their two seasons since returning to Ligue 1, Lorient would almost certainly have been considered within a group of teams at risk of being relegated, especially with there being an extra spot at risk this campaign as France looks to reduce its amount of teams in the top division to 18 over the coming years.

However, based on their early season form and the points tally which they have already amassed after seven matches, that assessment may need to be reconsidered as fans are dreaming of beating their all-time record seventh-placed finish in Ligue 1, which was set in the 2009-10 campaign.

Replacing Christophe Pelissier with rookie manager Regis Le Bris has proved a risk more than worth taking so far, with the 46-year-old shining in his first ever managerial role. Three successive wins has moved Les Merlus onto 16 points from seven games, including an impressive 3-1 victory against Lyon last week.

Based on current form, there should only be one winner at Stade de l'Abbe-Deschamps on Friday, but Le Bris will be trying to keep his players' feet on the ground as he looks to build on their superb start.

Auxerre Ligue 1 form:

Lorient Ligue 1 form:

Team News

Auxerre are expected to be without Nuno Da Costa, Julian Jeanvier, Gaetan Charbonnier and Theo Pellenard through injury for Friday's important clash.

Having been comprehensively beaten by Rennes in their last match, Furlan may be considering a few alterations to his starting XI, with Gauthier Hein and Denys Bain potentially coming into the side after being named on the bench last time out.

Lorient, meanwhile, may travel without Quentin Boisgard and Igor Silva due to muscle strains.

Ibrahima Kone and Yoann Cathline are both pushing for starts having scored from the bench to help their side to a 3-2 win against Nantes last weekend, but Le Bris may stick with a winning formula for the time being.

Auxerre possible starting lineup:

Costil; Joly, Jubal, Bain, Mensah; Sakhi, Toure, Raveloson; Sinayoko, Niang, Autret

Lorient possible starting lineup:

Mvogo; Kalulu, Laporte, Talbi, Le Goff; Abergel, Innocent; Diarra, Le Fee, Ouattara; Moffi

We say: Auxerre 1-2 Lorient

Lorient have built serious momentum over the past few weeks and we expect their confidence to carry them to a fourth successive victory.

Le Bris has strong options to turn to from the bench should things not be going his side's way, which can not be said for Auxerre, who may succumb to a fourth straight defeat.

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