Lyon will look to make it four consecutive Ligue 1 wins as they host Auxerre in a Saturday afternoon clash at the Groupama Stadium. Lyon enters this match off a midweek 1-0 loss to Besiktas in the Europa League, while Auxerre comes in boosted by a recent win over Reims.
**Match Preview**
Following two Europa League victories, Lyon suffered their first European setback against Besiktas but remain in a promising position in their league group, currently sitting 10th. Returning to domestic action, Lyon appears to have shaken off their early-season struggles, stringing together three straight league wins – the longest active winning streak in Ligue 1.
Their latest league success, a dominant 4-0 win over Le Havre, marks their fourth consecutive match scoring at least two goals. Lyon’s defensive form has been equally impressive, conceding only once across the last three games. At the Groupama Stadium, manager Pierre Sage’s team has been solid, with two wins and two losses from their four home games. Notably, they are the only team in Ligue 1 to have scored and conceded over 20 goals this season (20 scored, 21 conceded). Additionally, Lyon boasts a 20-game unbeaten home record against newly promoted teams, with 15 wins and five draws since December 2015.
Auxerre, meanwhile, shocked Lyon with a 2-1 victory in their last top-flight meeting in February 2023, though it was one of only eight wins that season – ultimately not enough to avoid relegation. After swiftly earning promotion back to Ligue 1, Auxerre has shown mixed form, with three wins and five losses from their opening eight games.
Despite their struggles, Auxerre’s three wins in their first eight matches mark their best top-flight start since the 2009-10 season, a year in which they finished third. Last weekend, Christophe Pelissier's men held off a late Reims comeback to win 2-1, securing back-to-back home victories after a surprising 3-0 win over Brest. However, their away form remains a concern, with four consecutive away losses this season, each seeing them concede at least two goals – their last away win in Ligue 1 dates back to April 2023.