Lens v Auxerre: leaders' title push meets relegation fight | OneFootball

Lens host Auxerre in Ligue 1 at Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Saturday, 17 January 2026, with the leaders looking to consolidate top spot while the visitors try to climb out of the relegation places.

Lens arrive on a five-match league winning run and beat Auxerre away in October. The head-to-head still carries a cautionary note: Auxerre won 4-0 in this fixture in April 2025.

Form guides diverge sharply. Lens have taken maximum points since late November. Auxerre have one win in their last four Ligue 1 matches, having drawn at Paris FC before beating Metz, then losing to Lille and Brest.

Team news could shape the balance. Lens are without Ruben Aguilar, Jonathan Gradit, Odsonne Edouard, Jhoanner Chavez and Anthony Bermont through injury. Auxerre miss Gideon Mensah and Elisha Owusu due to suspension, with Francisco Sierralta, Clément Akpa, Telli Siwe and Rudy Matondo injured.

On the pitch, Lens' season profile is strong at both ends: 31 goals scored, only 13 conceded and six clean sheets. Wesley Said and Florian Thauvin carry the cutting edge, while Adrien Thomasson and Matthieu Udol have supplied five league assists each. Auxerre have scored 14 and conceded 27. Lassine Sinayoko leads their tally with six league goals, and Christophe Pélissier's side may look to Sekou Mara, Josué Casimir and Ibrahim Osman to stretch the leaders in transition.

A win would move Lens to 43 points and could strengthen their grip on first place. Auxerre, on 12 points in 17th, need a result to boost their survival bid and edge closer to safety.