Auxerre v Brest: survival fight meets top-half push | OneFootball

Auxerre host Brest in Ligue 1 on Saturday, 21 March 2026 at Stade de l'Abbé Deschamps, with the hosts trying to climb out of the relegation play-off place and the visitors aiming to firm up a top-half finish.

Brest won the reverse fixture 2-0 in January and arrive 10th, while Auxerre sit 16th. The visitors have been the steadier side across the season, but the game offers the hosts a chance to reset at home.

Recent form points both ways. Auxerre have one win in their last five league matches, drawing at Lorient and against Strasbourg before losing narrowly at Marseille. Brest strung together three straight victories, added a draw at Lille, then slipped at Monaco last time out.

Team news tilts selection. Brest are without Ludovic Ajorque and Brendan Chardonnet through suspension, while Mama Baldé is injured. That could place greater responsibility on Romain Del Castillo and Kamory Doumbia in the final third. Auxerre list Oussama El Azzouzi, Lasso Coulibaly and Yvan Zaddy as injured.

On the pitch, Brest have combined a solid defensive base with nine clean sheets and more than a goal a game. Del Castillo leads their league tally with eight, with Doumbia adding five. Auxerre's struggle has been goals, just nineteen in 26, so wide supply and moments for Lassine Sinayoko or Sekou Mara could be decisive if they create enough entries into the box.

A home win would lift Auxerre to 22 points and could pull them closer to safety. Three points would take Brest to 39 and may nudge them up from 10th, strengthening their push to finish higher in the table.