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Auxerre v Paris Saint-Germain – Line-ups, stats and preview
Match Preview for Auxerre v Paris Saint-Germain
Auxerre welcome reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain to the Stade de l’Abbe-Deschamps on Friday night as the two sides meet at opposite ends of the Ligue 1 table.
The hosts begin the round inside the relegation zone and will be desperate for points to aid their survival push, while PSG know that avoiding defeat would be enough to temporarily return them to the summit.
Auxerre’s return to the top flight has proven difficult, with Christophe Pelissier’s side struggling for consistency after finishing comfortably mid-table last season.
A poor run of results either side of the winter break has seen them slide down to 17th, and they arrive into this fixture on the back of three consecutive league defeats against Lille, Brest and Lens.
Their most recent outing was a narrow 1-0 loss away to Lens, where a disciplined display ultimately went unrewarded following a second-half breakthrough from the league leaders.
PSG travel south knowing that dropped points have been costly in what has been a less dominant domestic campaign than usual.
Luis Enrique’s side currently sit second in the table, but they have responded positively to earlier setbacks by winning four of their last five Ligue 1 matches, scoring freely in the process.
A 3-0 home win over Lille last weekend kept them within touching distance of first place, with Ousmane Dembele continuing his strong run of form in the final third.
However, PSG’s away performances have been less convincing, and a midweek Champions League defeat to Sporting Lisbon highlighted ongoing issues on the road.
Team news for Auxerre v Paris Saint-Germain
Auxerre receive a welcome boost with Gideon Mensah and Elisha Owusu both available again following suspension.
Francisco Sierralta and Nathan Buayi-Kiala remain sidelined, but Pelissier otherwise has a near full-strength squad to choose from.
January loanee Romain Faivre is pushing for his first start after making his debut from the bench against Lens, while Lassine Sinayoko is expected to continue leading the line.
Paris Saint-Germain will be without Joao Neves, Lee Kang-in and Matvey Safonov due to injury.
Fabian Ruiz is a doubt after being forced off in midweek, with Warren Zaire-Emery likely to step into midfield if required.
Achraf Hakimi could return to the starting XI following his international commitments, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is pushing for a start after impressing off the bench in Europe.
Expected line-ups for Auxerre v Paris Saint-Germain
Auxerre: Leon; Sy, Akpa, Diomande, Senaya, Mensah; El Azzouzi, Ahamada; Faivre; Namoso, Sinayoko
Paris Saint-Germain: Chevalier; Hakimi, Zabarnyi, Beraldo, Mendes; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Mayulu; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia
How to watch Auxerre v Paris Saint-Germain: TV channel, online stream
Auxerre v Paris Saint-Germain will take place on Friday night, with kick-off scheduled for 7pm (UK time).
The match will be broadcast live in the UK on Amazon Prime.
The stats for Auxerre v Paris Saint-Germain
- Auxerre have taken 10 of their 12 Ligue 1 points at home this season
- PSG have won four of their last five league matches
- Auxerre sit inside the relegation zone heading into the fixture
- PSG have dropped points in five Ligue 1 matches this season
- The reverse fixture ended in a 2-0 win for PSG
Prediction
Auxerre
0
–
2
Paris Saint-Germain
Auxerre’s home form suggests they will not make things straightforward, but PSG’s superior quality in wide areas and attacking depth should eventually tell.
With the title race finely poised, the champions are expected to respond and collect a comfortable away win
