Auxerre, who finished 11th in Ligue 1 last season, are struggling this season. Recently, they have suffered a string of defeats: first against Lille (3-4), then away to Brest (2-0) and leaders Lens (1-0). However, these setbacks should be put into perspective, as the Burgundians caused plenty of problems for these top teams. However, they have failed to pick up any points in their last few games and are now in 17th place with the threat of relegation hanging over them.
Although Paris Saint-Germain have suffered defeats in recent weeks in the Coupe de France (0-1 against PFC) and the Champions League (2-1 against Sporting), they are nonetheless on a four-match winning streak in the league: against Rennes (5-0), Metz (2-3), Paris FC (2-1) and Lille last week (3-0). But above all, Paris have the opportunity, in the event of a victory, to put pressure on the leaders Lens, who travel to Marseille on Saturday.
30 – Paris Saint-Germain have beaten AJ Auxerre the most of any club in Ligue 1 history, with a total of 30 victories over the Burgundians.
71 – Paris have brought their pressing to bear on 71% of the possessions by their opponents in Ligue 1 this season, the highest percentage in the top flight. Auxerre have the lowest (59%).
100 – At 19 years and 321 days, Warren Zaïre-Emery could become the third-youngest player to reach 100 Ligue 1 appearances since Opta began recording this data (1947-1948) on Friday.
In goal, Christophe Pélissier will be able to count on captain Donovan Léon. Brilliant against Paris last season, Auxerre's last line of defence will be one of his team's key figures. In front of him, there will be Sinaly Diomandé, who has established himself as one of the stalwarts of the side's backline, alongside Clément Akpa. It remains to be seen whether Francisco Sierralta or Marvin Senaya will start alongside the two Ivorian internationals. While the latter seems to have the edge, the former Strasbourg player can also play as a right-back.
However, in this position, it is Lamine Sy who has earned the trust of the Auxerre staff in recent weeks. The player, who arrived from Caen last summer, could be accompanied on the opposite side by Ghanaian international Gideon Mensah, who is back in the squad, thus relegating Fredrik Oppegård to the bench. In midfield, the return of another Ghanaian international should be a boost for AJA: Elisha Owusu. A product of the Olympique Lyonnais youth academy, the man from Montreuil is one of the key players in Pélssier's team and should regain his place in front of the defence.
He could be joined by Naouirou Ahamada, who arrived this winter from Crystal Palace, and French youth international Kévin Danois. This would make for an athletic trio in midfield, while Oussama El Azzouzi, Rudy Matondo and Assane Dioussé could also make an appearance against the Parisians. Having arrived on loan from Bournemouth just last week, Romain Faivre could also make his first start in the Yonne region, potentially shaking up the established hierarchy in midfield.
Finally, in attack, Auxerre have no shortage of options. After an impressive performance for Mali in the Africa Cup of Nations, Lassine Sinayoko will obviously be expected to lead the line. Cameroonian international Danny Namaso is the favourite to support him, making Sékou Mara and Josué Casimir luxury attacking options for the Burgundy side. Paris should make no mistake: despite their current momentum, AJ Auxerre have no shortage of taelnt to unleash at the Abbé-Deschamps on Friday.
