A resurgent Auxerre look to continue their upward trajectory when they welcome a Le Mans side who are still looking for their first away win of the season.
Match News and Current Form
After failing to pick up a point in their opening three league games, Auxerre have put together a resurgent run of three wins from the following four league outings (L1) to establish themselves amongst the mid-table pack. Now sitting on a higher points tally than at the same stage of any Ligue 1 campaign since 2008/09, Will Still’s charges have the opportunity to put some comfortable early distance between themselves and the relegation zone. Playing at home should only help that quest, as Auxerre have won as many top-flight games across the last seven they hosted (W5, D1, L1) as they did in 24 prior (D9, L10).
Life in Ligue 1 is proving rather difficult for Le Mans, who entered this round in the bottom three on the back of consecutive defeats. Not since a three-game sequence in the third-tier in November 2024 have Le Mans lost more consecutive league matches, while they’re also at risk of conceding 3+ goals in a third straight top-flight match for the first time in their history. Hitting the road seems unlikely to stimulate a response for a side winless in away league games this term (D1, L2), with those two reversals already as many as they suffered in the entirety of last season’s Ligue 2 promotion campaign!
Head-to-Head History
Auxerre boast a higher win rate in competitive H2Hs against Le Mans (56% - W10, D4, L4) than against any other side they’ve faced 15+ times in the last 55 years. Each of the last four Ligue 1 H2Hs were won by Auxerre, thus securing their longest ongoing winning streak against a current top-flight side.
Hot Stats and Streaks
Only PSG possess a longer ongoing scoring run of Ligue 1 games than Auxerre (12 games).
Auxerre conceded first in a pre-round joint-league high first five of their seven league matches this season.
Le Mans took under 4.5 corners in six of their seven Ligue 1 outings this term.
Le Mans have conceded six unanswered league goals after the hour mark this term.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Cameron Archer has scored over a third of Auxerre’s league goals (G4) this season, with all four strikes serving as team openers. Hitting 40% of Le Mans’ league goals (G4), including three away from home, Louis Mafouta has frustratingly failed to win each of his last seven scoring club appearances (D2, L5).
Rémy Labeau Lascary missed Auxerre’s last game through injury, while reliable scorer Adil Bourabaa (G3) will remain unavailable for the next few weeks for Le Mans.
For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.
Betting Analysis
Given the contrasting form of the sides, backing an Auxerre win seems like the obvious selection.
Author: Matthew Billon
