Lens must beat Auxerre in Ligue 1 on Saturday to ensure that they remain ahead of Marseille in second place in the table.

The visitors, meanwhile, are aiming to avoid a fifth successive league defeat.

Match preview

Having finished seventh in each of their two seasons back in Ligue 1 following a five-year absence from France's top flight until their promotion in 2020, Lens continue to go from strength-to-strength under the management of Franck Haise.

Only their fiercest rivals Lille have managed to beat Les Sang et Or in the league so far this season, with the benchmark of their campaign undoubtedly arriving with their 3-1 victory against Paris Saint-Germain on New Year's Day.

Despite only drawing 2-2 away to Strasbourg on Wednesday, Lens moved seven points clear of fourth-placed Rennes, increasing their belief that they could qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.

Lois Openda scored the visitors' equaliser during a topsy-turvy first half, with strikes from Sanjin Prcic and Kevin Gameiro providing the hosts with the lead after Alexis Claude-Maurice had scored after only 11 minutes.

Haise will expect a more straightforward encounter against Auxerre at Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Saturday, as the two sides' respective recent form could hardly be more contrasting heading into the match.

Indeed, Auxerre suffered a hugely damaging 5-0 defeat at home to Toulouse on Wednesday, which was the first time that they had ever conceded five goals at home in France's top flight.

Eleven defeats from their opening 18 games marks Auxerre's worst-ever start to a season, but they are still only one point adrift of safety having only returned to Ligue 1 via the second tier's playoffs at the end of the last campaign.

Despite opting to replace Jean-Marc Furlan with former Lorient boss Christophe Pelissier in their managerial dugout in late October, Les Bleu et Blanc's form has scarcely improved, with the Burgundy-based side travelling to Lens off the back of four consecutive defeats in the league.

Moreover, they required a penalty shootout to defeat third division outfit Dunkerque last weekend, suggesting that they are going to need a minor miracle to avoid defeat against their in-form opponents on Saturday.

Team News

Lens are expected to remain without Jimmy Cabot and Wuilker Farinez for the rest of the season due to ACL injuries, while Adam Buksa may be absent for a few more weeks with an ankle issue.

Massadio Haidara and Salis Abdul Samed could return to Haise's starting XI after missing out from the start in midweek, which would likely mean Jean Onana and Deiver Machado dropping down to the bench.

Auxerre, meanwhile, may travel without Theo Pellenard (knee), Paul Joly (ankle) and Kays Ruiz-Atil (illness), with Pelissier potentially weighing up several changes after his side's humiliation at the hands of Toulouse in midweek.

The likes of Youssouf M'Changama, Gauthier Hein and Nuno da Costa may all be expecting to start after coming off the bench during the 5-0 defeat, with a change of formation likely to be made by the visitors in order to attempt to shore things up defensively.

Lens possible starting lineup:
Samba; Gradit, Danso, Medina; Frankowski, Fofana, Samed, Haidara; Sotoca, Claude Maurice; Openda

Auxerre possible starting lineup:
Costil; Zedadka, Jubal, Jeanvier, I Toure, Mensah; Hein, Raveloson, B Toure, Sakhi; Niang

We say: Lens 2-0 Auxerre

Auxerre will be determined to avoid another heavy defeat against their in-form opponents, but Lens should have too much confidence and class having made such a strong start to the campaign. They have won all nine of their home games this season and will expect to make it a perfect 10 on Saturday.

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