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Lorient logo
Ligue 1 | Gameweek 25
Feb 26, 2023 at 12pm UK
Stade du Moustoir
AJ Auxerre

Lorient
0 - 1
Auxerre


Meite (56'), Abergel (78')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Raveloson (58')
Toure (32'), Dembele (67'), Massengo (77')

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

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Ligue 1 clash between Lorient and Auxerre, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Lorient welcome Auxerre to the Stade du Moustoir in the latest round of Ligue 1 fixtures on Sunday afternoon.

The hosts are in seventh place, still within reach of the European qualification places, while the visitors are in 18th and could move out of the relegation zone with a victory.


Match preview

Lorient head coach Regis Le Bris pictured on September 7, 2022© Reuters

After only narrowly avoiding relegation last season, Lorient have come on leaps and bounds during the 2022-23 campaign, currently sitting just four points adrift of Rennes, who occupy the Europa Conference League qualification spot.

It is largely due to a fantastic start that Les Merlus are in such a strong position, at one stage going on a run of eight wins in 10 matches, but more recent performances have brought them right back down to earth.

Over the past 15 league games, Regis Le Bris's side have picked up just 17 points, only the 12th-highest total in the division, and so they will have to rediscover their previous form to stand any chance of qualifying for Europe.

Lorient have still continued to impress at home recently, having not lost a league game at the Stade du Moustoir in 2023, while they also picked up an impressive 2-1 victory against Rennes at the back end of January.

Last time out, Les Merlus brought a four-game winless run to an end with a 3-0 victory against AC Ajaccio, with both Bamba Dieng and Romain Faivre managing to score their first goals for the club.

Lorient manager Christophe Pelissier pictured in January 2021© Reuters

Auxerre have more modest expectations than their opponents this season, hoping to avoid relegation in their first season back in the French top flight, but it is proving to be a very difficult task.

The White and Blues have picked up just 18 points from their 24 games in Ligue 1, which means they are currently two points from safety, however they have started to put in some improved performances in their more recent matches.

Last weekend, Christophe Pelissier's side picked up a vital 2-1 victory at home to Lyon, meaning that they are now undefeated in their last three Ligue 1 games, although they did draw the other two matches, one of which against bottom-of-the-table Angers.

Prior to their 1-1 draw at Stade Raymond-Kopa, Auxerre were also knocked out of the Coupe de France by Ligue 2 side Rodez AF, which will be a concern for Pelissier, as will his side's away record.

In the 12 matches that the White and Blues have played on their travels, they have picked up just five points, with their last victory coming all the way back in August, defeating Montpellier 2-1.

Lorient Ligue 1 form:


Lorient form (all competitions):


Auxerre Ligue 1 form:


Auxerre form (all competitions):



Team News

Lorient's Dango Ouattara in action with Lyon's Malo Gusto on September 7, 2022© Reuters

Lorient do not have any fresh injury concerns to deal with, but they will continue to be without both Yvon Mvogo and Julien Laporte, who are suffering with knee issues, with the latter player not featuring in the last four matches.

Bonke Innocent will also not be available in the midfield due to an injury concern of his own, so Jean-Victor Makengo is likely to keep his place, playing alongside Enzo Le Fee in the engine room.

After scoring their first goals for Les Merlus in the last match, Faivre and Dieng are set to play on either wing, providing for Ibrahima Kone, who has emerged as the first-choice striker since the departure of Terem Moffi to OGC Nice.

Auxerre also have some injury issues to deal with, and Pelissier will have to make do without Julian Jeanvier, who has missed the last four games through injury, so Rayan Raveloson, Jubal and Souleymane Isaak Toure are all poised to start at centre-back.

The White and Blues have little in the way of attacking threat, with their top Ligue 1 scorer on just three goals so far this season, but Nuno da Costa and Gaetan Perrin are set for starts on the wing, while young striker Matthis Abline should lead the line.

Lorient possible starting lineup:
Mannone; Kalulu, Meite, Talbi, Le Goff; Makengo, Le Fee, Dieng, Ponceau, Faivre; Kone

Auxerre possible starting lineup:
Radu; Toure, Jubal, Raveloson; Zedadka, Massengo, Toure, Mensah; Da Costa, Perrin, Abline


SM words green background

We say: Lorient 3-0 Auxerre

Lorient put in a much-improved performance against Ajaccio last weekend, a team that are on the same points tally as Auxerre, and so they should have no trouble sweeping their opponents aside on Sunday.

The White and Blues proved they have what it takes to go toe-to-toe with some of the better sides in the division in their last match, defeating Lyon, but their away record is very poor, and Lorient have been very impressive on home soil.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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Game History

How you voted: Lorient vs Auxerre

Lorient
83.9%
Draw
11.3%
Auxerre
4.8%
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Paris Saint-GermainPSG312010176294770
2MonacoMonaco30177656381858
3Lille311510645271855
4Brest30158744291553
5Nice3013983324948
6Lens30137103932746
7Rennes30119104436842
8Marseille30101194537841
9Lyon30125133949-1041
10Reims30117123741-440
11Toulouse30910113639-337
12Montpellier HSCMontpellier31911113943-437
13StrasbourgStrasbourg3099123341-836
14NantesNantes3195172949-2032
15Le HavreLe Havre31611143041-1129
16Metz3185183251-1929
17Lorient3068163659-2326
18Clermont30410162149-2822


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