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

In a pivotal match for their Ligue 1 European hopes, an inconsistent Lens are set to host Auxerre at Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Sunday.

Les Sang et Or will be looking to build on their win last time out, while AJA will be hoping to avoid a third straight defeat this weekend.

Match preview

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Will Still's Lens endured a tough few weeks between the start of February and early March when they lost four on the bounce, but with four wins from their last six in France's top flight, they are still fighting for a spot in the top six.

Most recently, Les Sang et Or overtook Brest when they came from behind to beat Les Pirates 3-1 at the weekend, though they did benefit from a first-half red card for opposition centre-back Abdoulaye Ndiaye.

Three points last week brought Still's side up to eighth in the table, where they are now six points behind sixth-placed Lyon, and with four games left to play, they will have to be perfect to close the gap.

However, given that Sunday's hosts have won just two of their five most recent matches at Stade Bollaert-Delelis, fans would be forgiven for having doubts about their team's ability to take maximum points on their own turf.

Regardless, should Lens defy their home form and triumph this weekend, then they could find themselves within sight of the European places, but defeat would all but mathematically eliminate them from the running.

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Meanwhile, Christophe Pelissier's Auxerre have lost consecutive fixtures leading up to this clash, but given they had only tasted defeat in one of the prior eight, they will be confident of getting back on track and finishing the season in strong fashion.

Last time out, AJA followed up a 3-1 loss against Lyon with another 3-1 defeat at the hands of fifth-placed Lille, and while those results were not unexpected considering the calibre of opposition, the boss will be disappointed that his team conceded six goals after keeping three clean sheets in the previous four games.

Dropping six points across those two matches has left Pelissier's men in 11th place with 38 points, a comfortable 11 above the relegation zone but 13 behind the division's European places.

That being said, the visitors have lost just one of their last five on the road, and they could be a major threat to Lens' ambitions on Sunday if they can channel the type of performance that saw them beat both Reims and Rennes in recent weeks, as well as take a point from Champions League-chasing Nice last month.

A win this weekend could take them above Les Rennais and up to 10th in the table, where they may only be three points from a place in the top half with three games to play.

Team News

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Lens are likely to be without versatile striker Florian Sotoca this weekend after he was taken off with an injury against Brest, and Anass Zaroury could be moved forward to take his place.

Thankfully for Les Sang et Or, left wing-back Deiver Machado should be available after serving a suspension for accumulating yellow cards, while backup goalkeeper Denis Petric could rejoin the squad after recovering from a back issue.

On the other hand, Still will have to turn to 17-year-old Kyllian Antonio to cover for suspended centre-back Facundo Medina, and the manager will also be missing left-back Jhoanner Chavez and striker Remy Lascary, who has been dealing with a cruciate ligament injury.

As for Auxerre, right-sided centre-back Gabriel Osho is nearing a return to action but will not be ready for Sunday's clash, so Sinaly Diomande, Jubal and Clement Akpa should make up Pelissier's back three.

Elsewhere, midfielder Elisha Owusu could feature after working his way back from injury, though Nathan Buayi-Kiala and Lasso Coulibaly will miss out once again.

Lens possible starting lineup: Ryan; Gradit, Sarr, Antonio; Aguilar, Thomasson, Aynaoui, Machado; Zaroury, Diouf; Koyalipou

Auxerre possible starting lineup: Leon; Hoever, Diomande, Jubal, Akpa, Mensah; Perrin, Massengo, Diousse, Sinayoko; Bair

We say: Lens 2-1 Auxerre

Lens have been inconsistent since ending their losing streak last month, but they will be motivated to take all three points this weekend after a strong performance against Brest.

That being said, Auxerre have been resilient on the road, and they should make this clash a close-fought contest.

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