Auxerre prepares for its trip to Lens this Saturday, but without two key players. Rémy Labeau-Lascary, loaned from Lens with an option to buy, cannot face his parent club this season due to a contract clause. Additionally, Elisha Owusu, the captain, has officially left for Erzurumspor in Turkey. These absences come as AJA finished the 2025 season in 16th place in Ligue 1, with 24 points (5 wins, 9 draws, 15 losses).
Why isn’t Labeau-Lascary playing?
Rémy Labeau-Lascary is in a unique situation. Loaned from Lens, his contract includes a clause preventing him from playing against his parent club this season. He also couldn’t complete preseason with Auxerre due to a physical condition « not at 100% », according to coach Will Still. His absence is a blow to Auxerre’s attack, which scored 23 goals and conceded 37 last season.
Owusu’s departure and its impact
Elisha Owusu, the captain, left Auxerre for Erzurumspor, promoted to the Turkish top flight. His departure robs the team of its on-field leader. Additionally, Jean-Alain Boumsong, former assistant to Christophe Pélissier, has also left, leaving Will Still with a reduced staff. These changes follow a 1-0 preseason win over Werder Bremen, a final test before the season starts.
What to expect against Lens?
Auxerre coach Will Still has expressed determination ahead of the Lens match, a team in the Champions League. « We’ll try to set up something that bothers them as much as possible because they’re still a Champions League team. They have a lot of quality, so we’ll have to be very good. » Auxerre’s next match after this trip will be against Nice on February 20, 2027, with the team currently 39 points behind league leader Paris Saint-Germain.
