Lens vs Auxerre Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Lens are enjoying a very impressive season so far as the high-flying northerners now welcome a relatively struggling Auxerre side at Stade Bollaert-Delelis this weekend.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – Ligue 1+ / US – beIN Sports Connect
Lens preview: At the top
As we head into the second-half of the 2025/26 Ligue 1 season, not many people would have expected Lens to be sitting at the top-of-the-table but that is where Pierre Sage has them, a point clear of last season’s treble winners Paris Saint-Germain.
They come into this one on the back of an impressive 3-0 defeat of Sochaux in the round of 32 of the Coupe de France last weekend, extending their current winning streak to nine matches across all competitions.
Auxerre preview: Struggling Auxerre
In what is their second successive season back in the top-flight of French football, Auxerre have struggled thus far as they begin this weekend sitting in the bottom two and the automatic relegation places in Ligue 1.
There had been some improvement before the mid-season winter break but they returned from the two-week stoppage with a 2-0 defeat away to Stade Brest a couple of weeks ago.
Lens team news: Haidara a doubt
Amadou Haidara moved from RB Leipzig earlier this month but has been away at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations with Mali. He remains a doubt now, too, due to a shoulder injury.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Risser; Ganiou, Baidoo, Sarr; Abdulhamid, Thomasson, Bulatovic, Udol; Thauvin, Said; Edouard
Unavailable: Gradit (Injured), Jhoanner Chavez (Injured)
Questionable: Haidara (Injured)
Auxerre team news: Couple of suspensions
Auxerre are dealing with a couple of key suspension issues for this week’s trip to Lens as defender Gideon Mensah is sidelined alongside midfielder Elisha Owusu.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Leon; Sy, Diomande, Senaya, Oppegard; Diousse, Coulibaly, Danois; Osman, Mara, Casimir
Unavailable: Mensah (Suspended), Buayi-Kiala (Injured), Matondo (Injured), Owusu (Suspended)
Questionable: Francisco Sierralta (Injured), Siwe (Injured)
Lens vs Auxerre prediction
With their home advantage, Lens will be confident of reacting well to whatever title rivals Paris Saint-Germain do against Lille at the Parc des Princes on Friday night. Auxerre have shown some improvement in recent months but they remain a very average side and should struggle throughout the second-half of the season with a comfortable home win to be expected for this one up in the north of France.
Lens vs Auxerre tip: Lens to win -1 handicap
