Lyon vs Auxerre Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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A busy opening month of the campaign now bleeds into September for Olympique Lyonnais as they welcome early strugglers Auxerre to Parc OL.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / USA – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – Amazon Prime PPV & Ligue 1+ / USA – beIN Sports Connect
Lyon preview: Steady domestically
Olympique Lyonnais succumbed to a play-off round defeat in the UEFA Champions League against Fenerbahce, leaving them left frustrated but they have remained strong domestically with a win and a draw in their opening two matches in Ligue 1.
Lyon started the campaign with a comfortable 2-0 victory against Angers before Paulo Fonseca’s side were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by likely relegation battlers Le Havre in their most recent outing last weekend.
Auxerre preview: Slow start
Having survived the drop in each of the last two seasons, Auxerre have now appointed former Southampton boss Will Still and they have given him a seemingly strong squad to work with but it has been a poor start to the campaign for the visitors.
They started off with a 5-2 demolition at the hands of last season’s runners’ up Lens before then losing by three goals to one against Angers at Stade de l’Abbe Deschamps last weekend.
Lyon team news: Replacing Fofana
A dramatic ‘deadline day’ move saw Malick Fofana eventually depart Lyon for Sunderland and that is a key blow for the hosts in the final third.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Greif; Athekame, Bacher, Niakhate, Tagliafico; Bidstrup, Morton; Nuamah, Tolisso, Boudache; Openda
Unavailable:
Questionable: Duranville (Injured)
Auxerre team news: Defensive injuries
Their poor defensive record thus far has not been helped by a few defensive injuries with former Watford defender Francisco Sierralta remaining sidelined alongside Marvin Senaya.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Diop; Sy, Diomande, Legros, Akpa; Ahamada, Piedfort, Danois; Faivre, Loader, Labeau Lascary
Unavailable: Senaya (Injured), Francisco Sierralta (Injured), Okoh (Injured), Diousse (Injured)
Questionable: Fofana (Injured)
Lyon vs Auxerre prediction
Lyon need to get back on track and brush off the frustration that they will still be feeling from their premature UEFA Champions League return. They do look a bit disjointed, though. That may not matter too much, though, as they come up against an Auxerre side that are playing a fun style but without almost any defensive cohesion and backing Lyon would be the way to go for this one on Friday.
Lyon vs Auxerre tip: Lyon to win
