Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Ligue 1 clash between Auxerre and Nice, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Aiming to stay in the division after last season’s promotion, Auxerre will host Nice at the Stade de l’Abbe Deschamps on matchday one of the 2024-25 Ligue 1 campaign.
The hosts won the 2023-24 Ligue 2 title with 74 points from 38 matches, booking their return to the top flight, while the visitors finished fifth in Ligue 1 with 55 points from 34 outings.
Match preview
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Auxerre suffered a disappointing relegation in 2011-12 as they finished at the foot of the table with 34 points, just two seasons after finishing third in the league with 71 points, bringing an end to their 32-year stay in the top division.
AJA followed their relegation with an underwhelming ninth-place finish in their first year in Ligue 2, marking the start of a 10-year stay in the second tier.
They were eventually promoted back into Ligue 1 in 2021-22 after finishing third, qualifying for the playoffs, and defeating Saint-Etienne 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw over two legs to secure promotion.
Auxerre entered the final day of the 2022-23 season with their survival chances in their own hands, but a defeat in their last game combined with a Nantes victory resulted in AJA being relegated in 17th place, finishing a point behind 16th-placed Nantes.
Christophe Pelissier, who took charge in October 2022, guided the side to the Ligue 2 title in their first season back in the second division, finishing six points ahead of second place and securing their return to the top flight.
Auxerre had a mixed pre-season ahead of the 2024-25 term, losing two, winning two and drawing one of their five friendly fixtures in preparation for the upcoming campaign.
Pelissier’s men will face a difficult opening match against Nice, who finished fifth in the league last season with 55 points from 34 matches and a side they have failed to beat in any of their last five meetings.
Although Nice recorded their joint-highest finish since placing third in 2016-17 last year, they will be disappointed to have not finished higher up the table after a superb first half of the campaign.
They recorded just three defeats in their first 20 league games, including a 13-match unbeaten streak to start the term, leaving them comfortably in second place.
However, Nice won just four of their remaining 14 outings in Ligue 1, losing six and drawing four in that time, resulting in Francesco Farioli‘s team dropping to fifth by the end of the term.
Farioli departed at the end of the season to join Ajax, and former RC Lens manager Franck Haise took over ahead of the upcoming campaign. Under their new boss, they faced a challenging pre-season, drawing three, winning one, and losing one of their five friendly matches.
Haise will be looking to get off to a better start in his first competitive match in charge, and he will be confident of taking all three points against a newly-promoted side.
Auxerre form (friendlies):
Nice form (friendlies):
Team News
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The hosts should have a fully fit squad to choose from for their first match back in Ligue 1, and Pelissier is likely to name a similar team that he deployed throughout pre-season.
Thelonius Bair, who joined from Motherwell, is expected to make his competitive debut for the team up front, having played there throughout pre-season.
Melvin Bard will remain suspended for the visitors after the left-back received a red card in the penultimate game of the 2023-24 season against Paris Saint-Germain.
Nice may also be without Jeremie Boga, Morgan Sanson, Sofiane Diop, Terem Moffi, Tom Louchet and Youssouf Ndayishimiye, who are all currently dealing with injury problems.
New signing Jonathan Clauss is likely to start after joining the club from Marseille throughout the summer window, partnering Pablo Rosario, Dante and Antoine Mendy in defence.
Auxerre possible starting lineup:
Leon; Joly, Pellenard, Osho, Akpa; Owusu, Diousse; Perrin, Hein, Sinayoko; Bair
Nice possible starting lineup:
Bulka; Clauss, Rosario, Dante, Mendy; Ndombele, Boudaoui, Beka Beka; Cho, Laborde, Bouanani
We say: Auxerre 1-2 Nice
Auxerre will be eager to pick up points from their first match upon their return to Ligue 1, especially in front of their home crowd, but the visitors possess more quality throughout their squad and should take all three points.
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