Preview: Nice vs Auxerre - prediction, team news, lineups

Two teams who experienced contrasting fortunes in their opening fixtures will meet for Ligue 1’s matchday two this weekend when out-of-form Nice welcome Auxerre to Allianz Riviera

Le Gym fell at home to Toulouse last weekend, conceding a late 89th-minute goal, while AJA enjoyed a bright start to the campaign with a 1-0 victory against Lorient.

Match preview

Nice’s 1-0 defeat at the Riviera last weekend not only extended their poor run in Ligue 1 opening fixtures to five games without a win, but also exposed ongoing issues in their attacking play

Franck Haise’s men have now gone three competitive matches without finding the net, including their 4-0 aggregate defeat to Benfica in the Champions League qualifiers, which sealed their elimination from the competition.

This is uncanny for a team that rarely went more than one game without scoring last season, and, having boasted Ligue 1’s third-best attack with 66 goals in 2024-25, it further highlights a side that appears to be losing its touch in the final third.

Haise is also under pressure to replicate last term’s lofty heights after guiding Le Gym to a fourth-place finish, which makes victory this weekend all the more crucial.

However, they must also contend with an unfavourable head-to-head record, as Nice have not won any of their last four Ligue 1 meetings with Auxerre, the most recent being a 1-1 draw at the Riviera last season.

The visitors have every reason to be optimistic about stretching their unbeaten run in this fixture, buoyed by the momentum of last weekend’s 1-0 triumph over Lorient in the league curtain-raiser.

A second-half strike from Lassine Sinayoko proved decisive in sealing the three points for Christophe Pelissier’s men, who will now be aiming to preserve their Ligue 1 status for a second successive campaign.

Auxerre secured 11th place with 42 points upon their return in 2024-25, though pushing into the top half is likely to be the ambition this time, so picking up results even on their travels will be seen as vital.

However, with only 15 points collected from 17 away fixtures last season, AJA will know they have their work cut out when making the trip to the Riviera this weekend.

Nice Ligue 1 form:

Nice form (all competitions):

Auxerre Ligue 1 form:

Auxerre form (all competitions):

Team News

Nice approach this contest still dealing with injury concerns, with Morgan Sanson, Youssouf Ndayishimiye, Tanguy Ndombele and Mohamed Abdelmonem all ruled out.

In addition, veteran defender Dante and 21-year-old forward Mohamed-Ali Cho remain doubts due to fitness issues, while right-back Jonathan Clauss is also unlikely to feature after missing Thursday’s training amid links to Bayer Leverkusen.

The visitors, by contrast, have few problems in their treatment room, with 21-year-old midfielder Nathan Buayi-Kiala their only expected absentee.

They have also been handed a boost with the return of Sinaly Diomande, who could be thrust straight back into the starting line-up after serving his suspension.

Nice possible starting lineup:

Diouf; Mendy, Bah, Oppong; Bard, Boudaoui, Louchet, Clauss; Jansson; Bouanani; Moffi

Auxerre possible starting lineup:

Leon; Mensah, Diomande, Akpa, Sierralta, Senaya; Osman, Danois, Owusu, Casimir; Sinayoko

We say: Nice 1-1 Auxerre

Nice have been far from convincing in recent weeks, but their six-match unbeaten run at home to Auxerre across all competitions is a factor that cannot be ignored.

While a draw looks the most likely outcome, both sides are expected to find the net, as they have done in each of their last three Ligue 1 meetings at this ground.

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