Auxerre host Stade Brestois 29 this Saturday, September 19th at 3pm at the Stade de l’Abbé-Deschamps for Ligue 1's 5th matchday, with a defence severely weakened by injuries. Jean-Marc Furlan's side must cope without four defenders, complicating their preparation after the win over Nice (1-0).
AJA currently sit 15th in the championship with three points from four games. The club has conceded eleven goals, the joint-worst tally in the division alongside Angers. This defensive frailty is compounded by the absences. Sekou Fofana and Telli Siwe, out with groin and hamstring injuries, are unavailable until late September and mid-October respectively. Marvin Senaya, with a thigh issue, is also ruled out. Defensive midfielder Assane Dioussé is sidelined until next spring.
The likely lineup
Facing these constraints, Jean-Marc Furlan is expected to rely on the central trio that held firm against Nice, made up of Christ Makosso, Axel Tuanzebe and Cyril Akpa. Full-backs Lilian Sy and Andréas Piedfort are set to start on the flanks. In attack, Cameron Archer, the team's top scorer this season with two goals in two appearances, will be the one to watch. The young striker scored in the comprehensive 3-0 win against this same Brest side last season, a result AJA would like to repeat.
Brest, 7th in the table, arrive after a narrow defeat to Paris Saint-Germain (0-1). The Breton side has shown attacking qualities, with two 2-2 draws against Toulouse and Le Mans in August. Auxerre's last win came in the previous match, providing a morale boost. The schedule for upcoming fixtures is available on our fixtures page.
Saturday's match represents an opportunity for Auxerre to confirm their defensive improvement and secure a second consecutive home win. The exact lineup will be announced one hour before kick-off.
