Auxerre have a chance to defeat Lyon in a Ligue 1 affair for the first time in over a decade when the two sides face off at Stade de l’Abbe Deschamps on Friday.

Last weekend, AJA extended their winless run in the top flight to 10 consecutive matches, drawing Angers 1-1 as they remain in the relegation zone, while OL are unbeaten in four successive domestic outings, defeating Lens 2-1 on Sunday.

Auxerre might feel Sunday’s 1-1 Ligue 1 draw at bottom side Angers was an opportunity missed, although they deserve credit for recovering after conceding an early own goal. With four teams going down this season, the longer their winless league run continues (D3, L7), the more jittery they’ll become, especially if the four-point gap between them and the side in 16th place increases.

As Auxerre fans haven’t even seen their side score in any of their last three home league fixtures (D1, L2) it’s unlikely many of them will be confident of witnessing just a second home win against Lyon in 14 attempts (D2, L10). It’s an even more improbable proposition when considering both home league wins this term came against the sides immediately above them in 17th and 18th place.

Although some Lyon fans protested against the club’s management before their latest game against Lens, unhappy with a perceived lack of ambition, they got behind their players who delivered a 2-1 win to make it four league games unbeaten (W3, D1). Closing in on the European qualification spots, three points were just what the doctor ordered for manager Laurent Blanc, who missed the match due to illness.

If Blanc recovers, he’ll be heading north to face an Auxerre side with whom he won a domestic double in 1995/96 as a player and no doubt hoping for a good start, as each of his three managerial H2Hs at this venue saw the side scoring first win ‘to nil’ W2, L1). As Les Gones have won the last four league away fixtures in which they broke the deadlock, an early goal could set them on their way.

Players to watch: Matthis Abline has scored three goals across Auxerre’s last six games, two of them between the 60th and 70th minute, while fellow 19-year-old Rayan Cherki netted in each of Lyon’s last three outings, twice between the 55th and 65th minute.

Hot stat: Auxerre manager Christophe Pélissier has never won a managerial H2H against Lyon (D2, L8).

Lyon have held Auxerre off the scoresheet in three of their previous four visits to Stade de l’Abbe Deschamps, winning their last match played there, 3-0 in November 2011.

Coming into this encounter, Les Gones are unbeaten in five successive road matches in all competitions, outscoring their opponents by a margin of 12-3 over that stretch.

While they find themselves six points off a place in Europe next season, there is a massive opportunity for them to make up that ground in the coming weeks, facing the bottom two clubs in Ligue 1 in successive weeks (Auxerre and Angers) and then battling Lorient, Lille and Nantes in March, with the first two being ahead of them in the table right now.

Auxerre Ligue 1 form:

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Auxerre form (all competitions):

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Lyon Ligue 1 form:

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Lyon form (all competitions):

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Homefield has not been much of an advantage for the Burgundy club, who have been inconsistent and disorganised at the back through most of the campaign, and a striker as deadly as Lacazette in the attacking third will likely make them pay.

Auxerre possible starting lineup:

Radu; Zedadka, Jubal, I. Toure, Mensah; B. Toure, Massengo; Hein, Sakhi, Da Costa; Abline

Lyon possible starting lineup:

Lopes; Lukeba, Lovren, Diomande; Tagliafico, Tolisso, Caqueret, Kumbedi; Lepenant; Lacazette, Sarr