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

Despite being at complete opposite ends of the table, both sides have been in formidable form to aid their respective end-of-season objectives.

Match preview

A title challenge now looks out of reach for Marseille, as Paris Saint-Germain maintained the eight-point gap between the sides last weekend.

However, a late win over rivals Lyon in the Derby des Olympiques has opened up a five-point buffer between OM and Monaco in fourth, making Champions League qualification seem likely.

Since Igor Tudor's side shockingly crashed out of the Coupe de France to second-tier Annecy, they have ensured their UCL dream remains intact by going seven unbeaten.

Some wonderful away results have helped along the way, including last week's win over Lyon, as well as against Rennes, and being the first side to beat Reims under Will Still.

Marseille have been notably poorer at home though, and that is what has scuppered any potential challenge to PSG, taking a meagre 28 points from 16 games at home, 11 fewer than they have away from home.

They won last time out here against Troyes, but that was a first win in six games at the Velodrome.

Marseille can take solace from the fact they have a brilliant recent record against Auxerre, winning the last three encounters while being unbeaten in eight.

Auxerre will offer a stern test to that record though given the form they bring into this one.

The relegation-threatened outfit have lost just one of their last 11 games - taking 20 points in that time.

That tally is a remarkable feat for a side battling near the bottom, as they are a point ahead of the three sides below them heading into the weekend.

Adding another point on the board with a draw against Lille was impressive against a side going for Europe.

It did end a three-game winning streak though, with those successes all coming in crucial clashes with sides near the bottom.

After a seven-game losing streak at the start of his reign at the club, manager Christophe Pelissier has made a fantastic recovery to turn Auxerre's season around after they looked doomed shortly after the new year.

Pelissier will also hope to end a rotten run as a manager against Marseille, in which he has lost all eight previous encounters.

Marseille Ligue 1 form:

D

W

D

D

W

W

Auxerre Ligue 1 form:

D

L

W

W

W

D

Team News

Injuries for Marseille meant Tudor only named seven substitutes last weekend against Lyon.

Azzedine Ounahi is out for the season with a broken toe, while Amine Harit and Pedro Ruiz remain on the long-term injury list.

Dimitri Payet is a doubt having missed last week's away trip, while Nuno Tavares is expected to miss out with a knock.

Auxerre will be able to welcome back Akim Zedadka after he served a one-match suspension last weekend.

Goalkeeper Ionut Radu is still out with a thigh injury though, along with Kenji-Van Boto (groin) and Han-Noah Massengo (calf).

Auxerre's colossal 6ft 8in central defender Isaak Toure is suspended, but he has timed his ban nicely as he would have been ineligible to face his parent club regardless.

New signing Elisha Owusu has still not featured since their Coupe de France victory over Niort back in January.

Marseille possible starting lineup:

Pau Lopez; Balerdi, Gigot, Kolasinac; Clauss, Rongier, Veretout, Kabore; Under, Alexis, Vitinha

Auxerre possible starting lineup:

Leon; Zedadka, Ravelosun, Jeanvier, Jubal, Mensah; M'Changama, B Toure; Hein, Da Costa, Niang

We say: Marseille 2-1 Auxerre

Marseille's form at the Velodrome has not been great, but a win here last time out plus success at Lyon last week may give the side an additional boost.

Previews by email