A time not so long ago. The last time the Lensois visited Abbé-Deschamps, they had already qualified for the Champions League and had come to consolidate their place as runner-up to PSG. It was two seasons ago and it seems like an eternity. In the meantime, the northern club has lost key players, experienced an intense European epic, changed coach, general manager, sporting director… while the Burgundians lived a season in the antechamber before returning to the elite in 2024-2025.
Today, for their reunion in Ligue 1, the stakes are completely different.
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Sticking back to the leading quintet
The Artesians have the opportunity to return very close to European places in the event of success. They could also put their pursuer of the day in the rearview mirror. But this AJA, 8th in the ranking, has been surprising everyone for some time, and it is not Marseille (1-3), Brest (3-0) or Rennes (4-0) who will say the opposite. With a series of four wins and two draws in the last seven matches, the Auxerres have revived their sluggish start to the season. Their home record, the third best in the championship with 16 points taken out of 21, is an important factor in this good dynamic continued against the Parisian leader last weekend (0-0).
The RCL knows what to expect when putting its crampons on the Yonnais pitch. It is up to him to confirm and improve the progress shown offensively during the last two confrontations (2-0 against Reims and Montpellier), and to maintain the solidity provided by the system with four defenders (two clean sheets in a row). On the other hand, he will be deprived of Wesley Saïd who suffered a relapse of his quadriceps injury, and Jonathan Gradit, injured in his foot. Martin Satriano, Jimmy Cabot, Ruben Aguilar are still recovering.
Kick-off at 7 p.m.
This meeting can be followed from 7 p.m. just after Marseille-Lille on France Bleu Nord, with Simon Jarnier and comments from Pierre-Louis Käppeli live from the Abbé-Deschamps stadium. Kevin Verbrugghe, referee and arbitration advisor for the Artois and Côte d’Opale districts, will be present in the studio to analyze the performances of the men in yellow during this meeting and Auxerre-Lens from 7 p.m.
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The Ligue 1 ranking
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Ligue 1 results
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Belgium
