Ligue 1 | Gameweek 33

May 10, 2025 at 8pm UK

Stade de l'Abbe Deschamps

Auxerre vs Nantes

Match preview

When Auxerre secured promotion to Ligue 1 at the first attempt after a year's absence, the Burgundians' ambition was to avoid immediate relegation.

Christophe Pelissier's side have done just that, as evidenced by their 10th-place finish in the penultimate round of the 2024-25 campaign.

Having secured their place in next season's competition, Pelissier's men will be looking to pick up maximum points in their final home game of the season, hoping to avoid a third successive defeat in front of their home fans.

The Burgundy outfit's current form pales in comparison to their early league campaign at home, where they won seven, drew five and lost just twice in their first 14 games at the Stade de l'Abbe Deschamps.

Aiming to avoid losing four out of five games on their home turf, Auxerre will be hoping that the historic advantage of a six-game home winning streak against Nantes will stand them in good stead against the relegation-threatened visitors.

Antoine Kombouare's side are not out of the woods going into the penultimate round of matches, as they sit just one place and one point above the relegation zone.

With 16th-placed Le Havre hosting Roberto De Zerbi's second-placed Marseille, maximum points for the Yellow Canaries will see them finish four points clear of the team below them and confirm their place in next season's competition.

However, La Maison Jaune will need to end a six-match losing streak in Ligue 1 when they host Marseille this weekend.

Kombouare's men will also have to overcome a poor away record that has seen them lose four of their previous top-flight games, including a 7-1 thrashing at Monaco, and fail to keep a clean sheet in 15 consecutive away matches.

Nantes, who have won just three away games this season, have not kept an away Ligue 1 clean sheet since a goalless draw at Toulouse in August.

This failure to keep a clean sheet away from home, coupled with a poor record in Burgundy, could mean that the Yellow Canaries' supporters will enter the final weekend of the season still unsure which division they will be playing in next season.

Recent Performance

Auxerre Ligue 1 form:WWLLWL

Nantes Ligue 1 form:LWLDDL

Team News

Although Auxerre do not have a long list of absentees, Hamed Traore, Nathan Buayi-Kiala and Kevin Danois are expected to miss out through injury.

In the absence of Traore, who has scored 10 Ligue 1 goals this season, the Burgundians will look to Gaetan Perrin to add to his nine top-flight strikes on Saturday.

Nantes will be without the suspended Nicolas Cozza, while Sekou Doucoure, Saidou Sow and Meschack Elia are all injured.

Although Matthis Abline is the Canaries' top scorer with eight goals, Moses Simon (seven) and Mostafa Mohamed (five) could be the difference-makers for Kombouare's side.

In addition to his seven goals, Simon's nine assists make him a dual threat in the attacking third, and with 16 goals to his name, he could well be the most dangerous player away from home.

Possible starting lineup

Auxerre possible starting lineup:

Leon; Diomande, Jubal, Akpa; Hoever, Perrin, Diousse, Oppegard; Sinayoko, Onaiwu; Bair

Nantes possible starting lineup:

Lopes; Centonze, Castelletto, Zeze, Amian; Augusto, Chirivella, Lepenant; Albine, Mohamed, Simon