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
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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.
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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.
Team News
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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
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.
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Dominic Lund
