While many eyes in Ligue 1 focus on Japanese internationals like Takumi Minamino (Monaco)
Ado Onaiwu has quietly carved his own path — and now
he might just be ready for a breakout moment
Having joined AJ Auxerre in 2022 after a promotion-winning stint with Toulouse
Onaiwu has become a trusted rotational striker
playing in 28 games for l'AJA and scoring four times this season
despite only starting 26% of games.Ado Onaiwu’s career path hasn’t followed the fast-tracked route of Europe’s typical exports
While some players cross continents in their teens
Onaiwu waited until 25 — an age by which many forwards have already peaked — before making his move from Japan to France
I had to take my chance,” he recently told L’Yonne Républicaine
“Toulouse came with a project that made sense.”
Marinos and earning international caps for Japan
Onaiwu’s decision to join Toulouse FC in 2021 was both strategic and personal
He was seeking a sustainable European opportunity
and found one in a club on the rise in Ligue 2 BKT
His first season at TFC was a resounding success
Onaiwu played a vital role in the club’s promotion to Ligue 1
contributing goals and bringing consistency to the attack
But his defining memory from Toulouse wasn’t the promotion—it was the Coupe de France
but I was so proud of the team.” Despite the highs
the transition to Ligue 1 McDonald's proved challenging
faster frontline in Toulouse’s evolving system
Onaiwu eventually sought a new environment
the Japanese striker is fully integrated into life in Auxerre
While he isn’t a regular starter in Ligue 1 - he's had an impact off the bench this season
the Japanese striker doubled his season's tally with a brace in what was a rare start for Onaiwu. Positioned on the left
he provided an excellant chip to open the scoring before sealing his brace before half-time with a deflected strike off a Lens defender.
But the bigger victory has come off the pitch.“My wife and children are here
They speak better French than I do,” he says with a laugh
“But I’m learning — I understand more and more.”Ado Onaiwu is now part of a growing contingent of Japanese talent in Ligue 1
The technical and tactical intelligence of players like Takumi Minamino (Monaco)
Junya Ito and Keito Nakamura (Reims) has made France a welcoming stage for Japanese exports
READ MORE: >>Multiplex: Ado Onaiwu’s Brace for AJA; Reims-MHSC, Nantes-TFC Draw>>Back to the Big Time: Auxerre's road back to Ligue 1
the attacker spent time with Cosmo Taverny and Entente SSG in their youth systems
He joined the B squad at Auxerre in 2017 and eventually cracked the first team in 2021
the Mali international was on the club’s radar
as he told Onze Mundial in a December 2024 interview
as he had several tryouts to enter their youth academy
La performance XXL de Lassine Sinayoko 🎩⚽️ Un but🅰️ Une passe décisive pic.twitter.com/OLxp4y77Yb
I had already been to Auxerre four times—it never worked out
Sinayoko was part of an AJA squad relegated from Ligue 1 McDonald’s after the 2022-23 season
it was a one-and-done season in Ligue 2 BKT for Auxerre as they won the league due to players like Sinayoko
who recorded eight goals and five assists in France’s second division
The AJA attacker showed that he could score in Ligue 2 BKT
but the question was whether he could translate that production to France’s top flight
as he has an opportunity to finish with 10 assists if he can secure two more in Auxurre’s final three matches of the season
Sinayoko and his teammates are looking to end the 2024-25 season on a positive note
The AJA standout has recorded four goal contributions in his last three matches
including three assists last weekend against RC Lens
Triplé à la passe pour Lassine Sinayoko 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/IJz0vnicKz
One reason Auxerre is staying away from the relegation zone is their results against teams at the top of the Ligue 1 McDonald’s table
AJA have defeated second-place side Olympique de Marseille twice this season
with Sinayoko recording one goal and two assists in the two matches against OM
Sinayoko noted that playing and gaining positive results against these top clubs has fueled his and AJA’s impressive season
“What really gives us a lot of confidence is that we’ve gotten good results against big teams
Once you’ve beaten Marseille or drawn with Paris Saint-Germain
maybe there’s also a little extra spirit.”
Sinayoko has shown he is at the heart of AJA’s attack this season
After a successful return to Ligue 1 McDonald’s
Sinayoko will be counted on to help the squad take the next step
which will be to challenge for a European competition
The French football federation (FFF) president has joined forces with the country's referees after Marseille president Pablo Longoria accused them of being corrupt in a bitter rant that followed his team's 3-0 loss at Auxerre in Ligue 1
This is not the first time that Marseille officials have questioned refereeing decisions this season but the club had never gone that far in its accusations
Longoria was deeply frustrated after Marseille's fifth league loss of the season that left them lagging 10 points behind Paris Saint-Germain
He spoke about "true corruption" and suggested that Marseille was the victim of an organised plot
PSG have one match in hand and can extend its lead over second-place Marseille to 13 points with a win at Lyon later Sunday
Marseille president Pablo Longoria described Ligue 1 as corrupt in an outburst after the team's defeat to Auxerre. MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images"I condemn in the strongest possible terms the remarks made by the president and officials of Olympique de Marseille against French refereeing in general and the referee of yesterday's match
to whom I offer my full support," Philippe Diallo
"Calling into question the integrity of our referees is defamatory
"Such comments seriously damage the image of our league."
was infuriated by Longoria's comments and announced it would ask the federation's ethics committee to look into the matter
And against all those behind the hate messages and death threats received since last night," the union said
The federation's ethics body said it will refer the matter to the French league's discipline committee adding that it had already issued a warning to Longoria last month for remarks "likely to discredit refereeing" during a match against Strasbourg
The committee said Longoria "took no notice of this and
went one step further in his outrageousness."
Longoria could not accept the second-half dismissal of Derek Cornelius for a second yellow card
Marseille were trailing 1-0 at the time and conceded two more goals in the last 15 minutes of the game
Brazilian defender Jubal scored both
as Auxerre ended a streak of three straight league wins for second-place Marseille
Earlier this year, Marseille director of football Mehdi Benatia was suspended for three months for his attitude toward Stinat during a French Cup loss against Lille when the referee served as the fourth official
Although he admitted Marseille did not play well and Auxerre deserved to win
Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi said that Cornelius' sending off was "scandalous."
"The referee was not serene during the match," De Zerbi said
"Perhaps past controversies influenced his decisions during the match
None of the referees were up to scratch for a game of this level
I hope Cornelius' red card won't be seen outside France because it gives a bad image of French football."
Former Marseille player Fabrizio Ravanelli
was also left fuming by the result and accused the game's referee of "not knowing what he was doing."
Ravanelli also spoke out against previous refereeing decisions against Marseille captain Leonardo Balerdi
who was suspended for the game against Auxerre
Victorious and very convincing in the first half last weekend against Stade Rennais (3-2)
the Rouge et Blanc wanted to continue their good form in the league
A visit from AJ Auxerre should therefore allow them to go and get the three points again
especially since the Burgundians had only won one of their last 12 away games in the top flight
but our Monégasques had to beware of their efficiency in transition
but after a quarter of an hour the first chance came on a deep run by Gaëtan Perrin
whose goal was disallowed for offside (15′)
The Rouge et Blanc struggled to get themselves strong chances (17′
while the former Monégasque Han-Noah Massengo
We were then forced to rely on set pieces to break the game open
And on yet another corner taken by Lamine Camara, it was vice-captain Thilo Kehrer who was on the lookout to fire the ball into the top corner with his left foot (1-0
It was the fourth goal in Ligue 1 for our vice-captain
Déjà le 4⃣e but de la saison en @Ligue1 pour Thilo 👏
36' | 1⃣-0⃣ #ASMAJA pic.twitter.com/DNtIbSC3N7
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) February 1, 2025
Sinaly Diomandé also sent a powerful shot into the top corner (1-1
AJA pushed and even showed themselves to be dangerous through Hamed Junior Traoré (44′
45+6' | 1⃣-1⃣ #ASMAJA https://t.co/Dszc47YjtM
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) February 1, 2025
The Polish goalkeeper was even heroic on his line to stop a penalty obtained and taken by Jubal (45 + 5′)
Kherradji asked the Brazilian to retake it
following the encroachment of a player in the area
and the latter converted at the second time of asking (1-2
It was a difficult blow that forced the Rouge et Blanc manager to make three changes
And the effect was immediate, since on a cutback from Vanderson, the Swiss striker perfectly played in Mika Biereth who finished from close range (2-2
It was nearly an exact copy of his goal scored against Rennes
This was just before he scored the third with a volley, on a lovely cross from Caio Henrique from the left (3-2, 63′)! The match then became something truly special as the Dane had an eight-minute hat-trick following some very good work by… Breel Embolo (4-2
Christophe Pelissier then decides to make a quadruple change
as Ado Onaiwu grazed the crossbar with a powerful shot from a tight angle (85′)
before Traoré had a last opportunity that Radeck knocked away (95′)
AS Monaco therefore won in stunning fashion against AJA (4-2)
Porté par un Mika Biereth auteur d'un triplé, l'AS Monaco renverse l'@AJA et s'impose pour la 11e fois de la saison en @Ligue1 👊
4⃣-2⃣ #ASMAJA pic.twitter.com/zxJwNjqykK
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) February 1, 2025
Saturday February 1 (19:00) – Stade Louis-II
Ligue 1 McDonald’s – Matchday 20: AS Monaco 4-2 AJ Auxerre
Goals: Kehrer (35′) and Biereth (57′
65′) for AS Monaco; Diomandé (38′) and Jubal (45+7′) for Auxerre
Bookings: Zakaria (45+4′) and Magassa (82′) for AS Monaco; Joly (30′) and Owusu (71′) for Auxerre
AS Monaco: Majecki – Vanderson (Diatta
Adi Hütter: "Show another face to Saint-Etienne"
Eliesse Ben Seghir and Adi Hütter are nominated for the Trophées UNFP
The Ghanaian credits Gomis for reshaping his approach to the game
you need to exhibit more,’” Owusu revealed in an interview with Flashscore facilitated by Ligue 1
“He told me to write down my targets and think about them every time I play
"I told myself I can bring more to the team
I’m glad I could help with some goals and assists.”
Auxerre were relegated from Ligue 1 after finishing 17th with just eight wins in 38 games
Their immediate return to the top flight has been marked by resilience: with six games remaining
they sit 11 points clear of the relegation zone (38 points
“I think the mindset of the team has been the difference this season,” Owusu remarked
26 out of Auxerre’s 38 points have been picked up at home this season (the ninth-best home record in Ligue 1)
which have been crucial to their survival bid
They give us the energy to do more,” Owusu said of the Stade Abbe-Deschamps faithful
They always give us positivity and confidence to make sure we have a good atmosphere to play
Auxerre in the Ligue 1 standingsFlashscoreOwusu’s growth extends beyond statistics
The 27-year-old has worn the captain’s armband three times this season
stepping up in the absence of senior players
“I feel proud to have the honour to captain and help the team,” he said
I feel the responsibility to give my best and to help my teammates in the best way possible.”
the biggest target is to stay in the league first
"We just want to stay in the league and win as many games as possible
We know that it is difficult to play in Ligue 1
but we will do our best,” the Ghanaian explained
Owusu, who has earned 15 caps for Ghana
is determined to cement his place in the Black Stars squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup
“The World Cup is the biggest tournament for a footballer because you dream of it from childhood,” he said
“Playing for your country at the biggest stage
It’s difficult to describe such a feeling in words.”
“I am looking forward to the 2026 World Cup
Every Ghanaian player is working hard to have the chance to be in the final squad
you want to be in the squad for the World Cup
I train every day and work hard to try and be in the squad for the tournament next year,” he added
Auxerre travel to face Lens in matchday 31 of Ligue 1 and will look to return to winning ways after consecutive 3-1 defeats to Lyon and Lille
Giantkillers Auxerre are flying high after a shock 3-1 victory over touted title challengers Marseille at the Vélodrome
By Luke Entwistle for Get French Football News
By Luke Entwistle for Get French Football News
A football club has the ability to put a town on the map. From a personal standpoint, revealing my Boltonian origins abroad will invariably elicit a reference to Bolton Wanderers; the town and the club are inseparable, indiscernible, especially internationally. Auxerre, a small village south of Paris, comprised of just over 37,000 inhabitants is the French equivalent.
It was Guy Roux, the inexhaustible former manager of L’AJA who put them there, winning a league title, reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League and winning the Coupe de France on four occasions across his 44-year tenure.
it took them 10 attempts to rediscover the top flight
they made a hasty return to the second division just 12 months later
but amid the financial difficulties hounding almost all clubs in French football
Christophe Pélissier’s men are defying those expectations
Bar Reims, Montpellier, Le Havre and Angers, all of whom did not spend a single euro in the summer, no team spent less than Auxerre in Ligue 1
Reports in France even indicated that the uncertainty over the TV rights deal forced the club to pull out of a deal to sign Ajaccio’s Tim Jabol-Folcarelli for just €2m
Le Havre and Angers all sit in Ligue 1’s bottom four
giantkillers Auxerre are flying high after a shock 3-1 victory over touted title challengers Marseille at the Vélodrome; the result
Auxerre have won four out of their first five games at their home ground
while securing victories against the likes of Nice
Having beaten Rennes 4-0 at home last week
they headed to the Vélodrome with a plan that
was straight out of Sam Allardyce’s playbook
L’AJA had just a quarter of the possession but scored three-quarters of the goals as they beat Marseille 3-1
with all of Auxerre’s goals coming in the first half
Just as Paris Saint-Germain did in Le Classique a fortnight earlier
who have shown a capacity to be more expansive
The goalkeeper Donovan Léon already had an assist this season and he got another one against OM
More than 58% of his passes have been launched this season
but like Allardyce’s “route-one” Bolton side
there is also a technical level in this side that allows for highly technical and efficient transitions
the football is frenzied but also fluid and precise
There is a secret behind Auxerre’s efficiency in attack
The former Liverpool and Marseille striker came through the ranks at Auxerre and rejoined the club as an attacking coach in 2023
just like I did when I was a player,” he told L’Équipe
followed by the control and shot from Gaëtan
referencing Auxerre’s second goal in the win over Rennes
View image in fullscreenThe Marseille head coach Roberto De Zerbi at full-time of the game with Auxerre Photograph: Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty ImagesCissé’s impact is clear to see: only Nice (bolstered by an 8-0 hammering against Saint-Étienne)
PSG and Marseille have scored more than Auxerre this season
It is a record that certainly challenges the perception that low-block
counterattacking football is an outdated and inherently negative style
If it continues to be adopted by many Ligue 1 clubs in the modern day
We had to cause them problems,” said Pélissier after the win
“You simply have to give confidence to the players with a gameplan and a strategy.”
It is a victory that lifts Auxerre to ninth in Ligue 1 and just one point behind the European places
Can Pélissier emulate Allardyce’s feat at Bolton and bring European football back
That may be a bridge too far for a club that merely set its sights on survival this season; that should – and will – remain the main objective
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But for a small village that has become synonymous with its football team
there is more than just nostalgia to fuel the fervour at Auxerre with the hope of brighter days ahead
It was a defeat to Auxerre that put pay to Julien Stéphan’s second stint as Rennes manager
Having replaced Bruno Genesio on an interim basis back at the end of last year
The former Marseille manager Jorge Sampaoli is destined to replace Stéphan and he was in the stands on Sunday
He helplessly looked on as Les Rennais continued their dire run
whose league standing (10th) is now more reflective of their quality after three successive wins
Le TéFéCé had been in the relegation places and given their current standing just one point above the relegation place
Rennes are now looking over their shoulders
did not stick around long there; given Pablo Longoria’s talk of a “three-year project”
who himself has evoked a long-term future at the club
But if his comments after the defeat to Auxerre are anything to go by
and even accused the captain Leonardo Balerdi of “lacking balls”
“A season here is worth two or three in another club,” said Igor Tudor at the time of his departure from OM in the summer of 2023
De Zerbi has never lasted more than three years at any of his previous clubs
John Textor called on Lyon to “humiliate” local rivals Saint-Étienne before the first Rhônealpin derby in two years
there was also North American pride on the line
given OL’s American takeover and the arrival of Canadian ownership at Saint-Étienne earlier this year
edging to a slightly nervy 1-0 victory but they did nonetheless continue a fine run of form
which has seen Pierre Sage’s side lose just one of their last 10 games in all competitions
Indeed, the first shot of the match came in the 25th minute as Hamed Traoré, Auxerre’s leading goalscorer this season
saw his effort comfortably claimed by Marcin Bułka
before Nice got their noses in front on 38 minutes
Gaëtan Laborde saw his strike deflected behind by Gabriel Osho, with the resulting corner from Tom Louchet nodded on by Laborde and headed in at the back post by Evann Guessand
via an intervention by the unfortunate Kévin Danois
making that his 12th in all competitions this term
Nice celebrate their openerIcon Sport / ddp USA / ProfimediaNice ended the first half strongly and were largely comfortable at the start of the second period
with Traoré’s curler wide the only moment of concern
Hicham Boudaoui’s overhead kick would have been a spectacular way to double the hosts’ advantage on 54 minutes
before Melvin Bard also missed the target with a presentable opportunity not long afterwards
Bard then could have been the assist maker
but his teasing ball agonisingly drifted behind Boudaoui
The aftermath of that effort by Traoré saw him go over on his right shoulder and duly replaced by Lassine Sinayoko as part of a triple Auxerre change
before Bard could have been awarded a penalty following a risky challenge by Sinaly Diomandé and Louchet failed to beat Donovan Léon
Auxerre really pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages however, and after Mohamed Ali-Cho wasted an opportunity to make it 2-0 and Bard was sent off, Ado Onaiwu’s precise through ball was finished excellently by fellow substitute Florian Ayé deep into stoppage time
Match statsStatsperformAuxerre’s wait for consecutive Ligue 1 away wins for the first time since October 2010 therefore continues
but they will have a spring in their step when they return home to face bottom-of-the-table Montpellier after the international break
with Nice travelling to fellow top-three challengers Monaco earlier that weekend
Flashscore Man of the Match: Youssouf Ndayishimiye (Nice)
See a summary of the match here
tells you a lot that you need to know about the history of the club located in the north-west of the Burgundy region
great production of young talent has been a hallmark of Auxerrois tradition down the years
and Stéphane Guivarc'h to the iconic 2000s swagger of Djibril Cissé - Auxerre have had a huge influence on the world of French football and Ligue 1
None of that would be possible without the steady stewardship of Guy Roux
French football's longest serving manager and eternal legend at Auxerre's Stade Abbé Deschamps
Believing that the way forward was investment in a strong club infrastructure and youth player development
Roux oversaw an Auxerre side establish itself as a powerhouse in French football
He became a player-manager in the fourth division of French football
He then led the side to a Coupe de France final in 1979 followed by promotion to France's top tier in 1980
It would provide the structure and springboard for Auxerre to dominate domestically
with four Coupe de France wins from 1993 to 2005
as well as a Ligue 1 title in the 1995-1996 season
Auxerre clinched an Intertoto Cup and reached the 1992-1993 UEFA Cup semi-final
Roux would manage the side until June 2005
including a record of 890 league matches in Ligue 1
Auxerre's 32-year stint in the top tier would come to an end in May 2012
marking the beginning of a 10-year period in Ligue 2 for Les Diplomats
AJA's supporters would see Ligue 1 again in the 2022-2023 season
following promotion via the promotion / relegation play-offs
After suffering a heart-breaking relegation on the final day of the season in their last Ligue 1 campaign
they are hoping for more success in their second bite of the cherry in the upcoming 2024-2025 season
OGC Nice conceded an injury-time equaliser to AJ Auxerre (1-1) as they squandered a big chance to consolidate their place on the Ligue 1 podium
“This atmosphere is brought to you by the LFP’s incompetence,” read a banner unfurled by Nice’s ultras pre-matchIt was a tepid atmosphere indeed at a sparsely-populated Allianz Riviera (officially an attendance of 18,640 spectators) but the players on the pitch did very little to bring the crowd into the game
It was only around the 35-minute mark that a bit of dynamism was injected into the game as Gaëtan Laborde’s shot was deflected over by the recovering Gabriel Osho
It was from the resulting corner that Nice took the lead
Evann Guessand’s header took a fortunate deflection off Kévin Danois that saw his relatively weak effort fly into the roof of the net
Le Gym could have doubled their advantage before the break had Hicham Boudaoui shown a bit more composure when set up well by Tom Louchet on the edge of the box
It was a story that repeated itself over and over in the second half
Laborde squandered a volleyed effort from close range
failing to make any contact at all on the swivel
Boudaoui then missed a flurry of good chances
notably a rebound after Donovan Léon saved excellently to deny Locuhet one-on-one
Boudaoui really should have doubled the advantage
then had the perfect opportunity to end the game but saw his effort heroically saved by Léon
Melvin Bard was sent off for a clumsy challenge
Le Gym tried to see out the result but failed to do so with Florian Ayé finishing emphatically into the roof of Bulka’s net
who could drop to fourth if local rivals AS Monaco pick up a win by more than two goals against SCO Angers on Saturday
An almost error-free display from the Canadian
He pulled out one of the rare moments of quality in the entire match
He was slightly deeper than the rest of the defensive line for Auxerre’s late equaliser
The Algerian had two matches in one: one with the ball and the other without it
helping Nice to establish their dominance in midfield but he was so wasteful in the final third with his erratic decision-making and lack of composure when asked to apply the finish
A goal to his name but far from his best match of the season
He is now on 11 goals for the season but lacked his dynamism and didn’t destabilise the opposition as he has so frequently done this season
Not dazzling but certainly efficient; he has often been accused of being the opposite
His saves kept Auxerre in the match at times
He made two crucial ones on the stretch in the second half
denying Louchet and then even more impressively
picking out Théo Bair unchallenged on numerous occasions
GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Nice
PARIS (AP) — Saint-Etienne boosted its chances of staying in Ligue 1 after winning a match which had been interrupted Sunday when a linesman was hit on the head by a projectile
Saint-Etienne beat Lyon 2-1 to dent its local rival's hopes of qualifying directly for the Champions League
The high-octane match was halted for 45 minutes after linesman Mehdi Rahmouni was hit by a projectile — possibly a coin — thrown from the crowd close to halftime at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard
Belgian forward Lucas Stassin scored before and after the interruption to reach 12 league goals and the 20-year-old's scoring prowess could prove crucial to keeping his side up
Saint-Etienne moved level on points with 16th-placed Le Havre in the relegation-playoff spot
Lyon's goal came from American defender Tanner Tessmann's fine curler from the edge of the penalty area in the 76th minute
“We needed to start the game better,” Tessmann said
French league officials met to decide whether to continue the match and agreed to do so because Rahmouni was not injured
local time with the closing stages of the first half
and Rahmouni was given a thumbs up by referee François Letexier and a warm ovation as he took up his position
Letexier had halted the game in the 45th minute
There were no away fans at the match for security reasons due to a high risk of clashes between rival supporters
Left back Léo Pétrot curled in a pinpoint cross to Stassin
who headed in from close range and celebrated among the fans
Stassin was shown a red card in the 23rd minute for a crude foul on Lyon midfielder Corentin Tolisso
but Letexier changed his decision following a video review and Stassin received only a yellow card
The decision enraged Lyon president John Textor
“One of the most obvious red cards one can see is waved off,” the American posted on Instagram
Canada striker Jonathan David scored two goals and set up the other as Lille beat Auxerre 3-1 to maintain its push for a Champions League place next season
Lille’s win moved it provisionally up to fourth place and pressured Lyon
The top three sides in France earn an automatic place into Europe’s elite club competition
while the side in fourth enters qualifying
Belgium right back Thomas Meunier gave Lille an early lead after being found by David
who then netted late in the first half with a clinical first-time effort
After an own-goal from Brazilian defender Alexsandro made it 2-1
David ran through deep into injury time and held off defenders before grabbing his 16th league goal of what is likely to be his final season at Lille
He is expected to move to a leading European club this summer
Lille’s win was soured by a freakish injury to goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier
who was accidentally bumped into by Alexsandro when the defender scored the own-goal
“He has two or three broken teeth,” Lille coach Bruno Genesio said
“He was angry about it and I can understand
Nice won 2-1 at home to Angers to move up to sixth place and remain in contention to qualify directly for the Champions League
Coach Franck Haise’s side is three points behind Monaco in third spot
Midfielder Pablo Rosario and defender Ali Abdi scored for Nice
before Yassine Belkhdim got his first goal for Angers
United States striker Jordan Pefok scored as Reims beat Toulouse 1-0 to move further away from the relegation zone
Pefok’s goal came soon after countryman Mark McKenzie was sent off
The Toulouse defender was shown a straight red card in the 27th minute for fouling Aurélio Buta as he raced through
Pefok netted 12 minutes later with a looping header for Reims
Lens won 3-1 at Brest to climb above its rival and into eighth spot
The AJ Auxerre will host Olympique de Marseille at the Stade de l'Abbé-Deschamps on February 22
for a crucial Ligue 1 clash in Matchday 23
Both teams enter this matchup with significant stakes—Auxerre fights to escape the relegation zone
while Marseille looks to solidify its spot in European competition
Auxerre has struggled to find consistency but has shown resilience
the team has managed to avoid defeat in recent home fixtures
earning valuable points through hard-fought draws
Marseille has been one of Ligue 1’s most exciting teams this season
spearheaded by standout performances from new signing Amine Gouiri
Auxerre shocked the Olympians with a 3-1 victory in their last encounter at the Orange Vélodrome
This result serves as a reminder that Auxerre can pose a serious threat despite their lower league position
How to watch the Ligue 1 match between Auxerre and Paris Saint-Germain
Under the guidance of Christophe Pelissier
Auxerre have exceeded all expectations despite a somewhat sluggish beginning to the season
they find themselves in the top half of the standings
staying within striking distance of the coveted top six or seven spots that could open the door to European competition
the hosts come into this clash on the back of a 2-0 loss against Toulouse at the Stadium de Toulouse in their previous outing
continue their quest to refine their identity and playing style under his stewardship
Despite facing turbulence in the UEFA Champions League
they remain firmly on course for another domestic title
PSG were held to a frustrating 1-1 stalemate at home by struggling Nantes
just days after another Champions League setback
the Parisians have been nearly flawless in Ligue 1
boasting ten wins and three draws from their opening 13 matches
sitting comfortably atop the table with a six-point cushion
GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch
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The Ligue 1 match between Auxerre and PSG will be played at Stade de l'Abbe Deschamps in Auxerre
It will kick off at 3 pm PT / 12 pm ET on Friday
Auxerre head into this encounter with no new injury worries
allowing them to field an unchanged starting XI in front of their Burgundy faithful
they are still without a couple of key players
as defender Ange Loic N'Gatta and defensive midfielder Ousoumane Camara remain sidelined
long-term absentees Presnel Kimpembe and Goncalo Ramos have returned to the squad as they gear up for the demanding winter schedule
youngster Senny Mayulu continues to recover from a calf injury
Luis Enrique has the luxury of a nearly full-strength squad at his disposal for this matchup
Auxerre has managed to frustrate Lille with back-to-back draws in each of the clubs’ last two meetings
and Les Dogues are in dire need of improvement if they’re to salvage a top-four finish in Ligue 1
Lille sits fifth in the table at present and is only one point off Lyon in fourth
while Marseille sits just one more point in front in third
the last automatic qualifying berth for next term’s Champions League
is lodged in mid-table and has little to fight for other than pride after all but guaranteeing its safety for another top-flight season
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That potential complacency could play into Lille’s hands given one of these teams has a lot more at stake this Sunday
not to mention Auxerre hasn’t won a league fixture at the Decathlon Arena since 2010
Christophe Pelissier’s side did manage a 1-0 victory at this ground in October 2013
though that showdown only came after extra time and was in the now-defunct Coupe de la Ligue
Lille has won just three of its past eight games in all competitions
though it’s fortunate the latest of those came just last weekend on the road to Toulouse
Mitchel Bakker’s free-kick bamboozled Les Violets to earn all three points for Les Dogues last weekend
moving Bruno Genesio’s side up to fifth in Ligue 1:
𝑩𝒂𝒌𝒌𝒆𝒓 = 𝑩𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 🔥Le coup-franc de Mitch' samedi, avec un peu d'aide 🎯 pic.twitter.com/ATxN7m1dXy
Two months have passed since Lille last managed back-to-back wins
though it’s been an even longer wait since Auxerre last coughed up successive defeats (almost four months)
Canada superstar Jonathan David missed from the penalty spot the last time these teams clashed in January
and he’s also looking to make up for lost time after failing to score in his last three games
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Olympique de Marseille travelled to the Stade de l’Abbé-Deschamps to face an out of form AJ Auxerre who have not won since late November
The first time these two sides met this season
Auxerre landed a bruising 3-1 win over Les Phocéens
And it would be déjà vu as the hosts registered another three-goal victory
Roberto De Zerbi had called the previous meeting a “turning point” but tonight the visitors struggled to demonstrate their progress
Marseille controlled the ball but failed to threaten Donovan Léon’s goal
Their best chance came in the 16th minute when Quentin Merlin’s cross was deflected off Ki-Jana Hoever and struck the post
They had spotted a weakness on the left of the Marseille defence and kept attempting to exploit the gap between Merlin and Geoffrey Kondogbia
Kévin Danois hit that space and found Hamed Traorè in the box
the Bournemouth loanee couldn’t control the ball and it bounced off his hand
Traorè would turn creator as he switched the play wide to Gaëtan Perrin
The winger skipped past Merlin before curling a shot off the crossbar and into the back of the net
The hosts looked to double their lead late in injury time but Theo Bair’s effort was disallowed for an offside
Marseille flew out of the traps in the second half as Gouiri had the ball in the back of the net
The Algerian international believed it was going to be his third since moving in January from Stade Rennais
the referee would rule out the effort as Luis Henrique was offside in the build-up
The visitor’s momentum would be hit when Derek Cornelius was shown a red card for a high tackle on Traoré after collecting a second yellow
The Canadian mistimed his intervention and flew into the back of the Auxerre player leaving an easy decision for the referee
Auxerre kept up the pressure and would soon double their lead
The substitute Lassine Sinayoko broke past the Marseille backline and entered the box
He pushed the ball wide past the onrushing Gerónimo Rulli
The Argentine took down the striker giving away a penalty
Jubal stepped up to the spot and with a neat effort struck down the middle beating Rulli
The hosts weren’t finished and were hungry to delight in their first win in months
Jubal was on the scoresheet again as Marseille struggled to defend a routine corner
The captain strode unmarked into the centre of the six-yard box and headed home
He had been solid for most of the match filling in for the suspended Leonardo Balerdi in the centre of the back three
There’s rarely a good time to earn a red card but his sending-off came at the worst moment for his side and put immense pressure on his teammates as they were chasing the game
A poor evening for the under-pressure wing-back
The calls for Amar Dedic grew a little louder
Auxerre spotted the lack of cohesion between him and Geoffrey Kondogbia and looked to exploit it whenever they got a brief chance on the ball during the first half
he was positioned high but offered very little
Replaced in the second half by Neal Maupay
His touch was heavy throughout the match and he looked disengaged as he struggled to find space against an Auxerre defence that marshalled him well
Replaced late in the second half by Jonathan Rowe
The goalkeeper wasn’t tested much at all by Marseille’s attack
but his proactivity was partially responsible
Any time the visitors looked to change the tempo and attack over the top of the Auxerre defence
He embodied a hard-working and resilient defence
GFFN | Nick Hartland
on Sunday morning for a regular season showdown in Week 27 of the Ligue 1 season against AJ Auxerre at the Stade de I’Abbé-Deschamps
is 8-8-10 overall with a total of 32 points on the table
The club has a negative-two-goal differential
which is tied with Stade Rennais and also Brest
who is five points above this club on the table
Directly in front of it is Toulouse with 34 points
while Rennais sits below Auxerre with 29 points
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Auxerre is 2-2-1 with its only loss a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Strasbourg
It drew 1-1 with Nice in its last game and 2-2 with Brest at the beginning of that stretch
Auxerre’s two wins came 3-0 against Marseille and 2-0 against Stade de Reims
Hamed Traoré leads the team in scoring this season with 10 goals and two assists in 23 starts
Montpellier HSC is the last-placed team on the table with a total of 15 points on a 4-3-18 record this season
The club has a goal differential of negative 38
Montpellier is five points behind Saint-Etienne and six points behind Le Havre AC on the table
The team holds five losses in its last five matches
It started that stretch out with a 2-0 loss to Strasbourg before being taken down 4-1 by Lyon
Montpellier was led in scoring this season by Arnaud Nordin
who has four goals in 16 started matches this season
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The Paris Saint-Germain manager answered questions from PSG TV and from the media ahead of his side’s game against AJ Auxerre
which kicks off at 21:00 CET tomorrow (Matchday 14 of Ligue 1) at the Stade de l’Abbé-Deschamps
"Auxerre are in very good form at the moment and have won a lot of their home games
They know how to switch the play well and can create major problems for their opponents
not least thanks to their three forwards and their use of the wings
It'll be a difficult game; we've got no doubts about that."
but he needs to adapt to the rhythm of the team
We're very happy to have them back in the side."
"We're always open to the idea of looking at every opportunity
but we're not going to sign any new players if we're not certain that they can improve the squad
I think that it's a difficult window for everyone
Regarding the players that aren't playing regularly
when I like what I see from them in training
and I can see considerable growth within the team
I even think that the problems that we've faced in the Champions League can be a positive thing because they'll help us to improve
There's nothing better for self-improvement than being in a difficult position and struggling to win games
from what I can see and from what the team is showing me
He can play both centrally and on the wing
I'm always obsessed with creating competition so that no one rests on their laurels
"We're going to be playing important games in the league
in the Champions League and in the Coupe de France
but we're heading into this period with a lot of enthusiasm."
"We're always open to bringing academy players into the first team; we try them out and promote some of them
Young players need to be given the chance to play
That will depend on their progress over the next few months and on what the team needs."
Having scored his first goal for AS Monaco last weekend vs
Mika Biereth backed up that brilliantly by bagging a scintillating hat-trick against Auxerre
in what was an outstanding man of the match performance by the 21-year-old
Given the nod over Breel Embolo due to him being ineligible for their Champions League clash with Inter Milan
the Danish youth international came up big when his team needed him to propel ASM to a crucial triumph
which came within eight second-half minutes
ensured Monaco regained the lead and then granted them a valuable buffer to see out the game
Putting his clinical finishing skills to great use on his way to scoring his treble from a total XG of just 0.67
his goals underlined emphatically why ASM were so keen to bring him in
as he again showcased his astute movement while attentively reading the ball’s flight to redirect Caio Henrique’s sublime cross into the back of the net
How he remained balanced and had the concentration and coordination to use the power from the delivery to guide his shot home deserved special mention
he coolly slotted home after capitalising on some smart approach play by Embolo
My teammates put me in an ideal position every time
and I almost only had to push the ball into the back of the net
Everything worked out well,” Biereth reflected
His display was about far more than just his goals
tidy work in possession and determined defensive exertions really elevated his menace
So clever with his movement and awake to gaps to exploit
Biereth was a constant thorn in the side of Auxerre with his shrewd drops deep
expertly timed depth runs and dynamic surges into the area
how he smoothly rotated with his fellow attackers
which was made easier due to ASM’s front four typically being within close proximity to one another
The way he occupied more right-of-centre areas after Embolo came on was important to note
as he coalesced especially nicely with the Swiss international striker and livewire Maghnes Akliouche
with his harmonising with the former notably being key towards two of his goals
He added this on operating alongside Embolo up front: “I have already played in this system with two strikers when I played at Sturm Graz
And then I admit that it is necessarily easier when you have a player like Breel next to you
in particular by bringing the ball up and systematically watching my runs
Also doing a nifty job of pinning and drawing markers to generate space for others and performing opposite movements with colleagues
Providing a terrific target and a fine reference point
Biereth’s strength and size saw him offer himself as an ideal outlet for long balls or to hold the ball up with his back to goal when checking towards the ball
Being near to his offensive partners in crime was also vital towards him being able to engage in some crisp combination play in close quarters to speed up attacks and cause extra dilemmas for Auxerre
His passing qualities also rose to the fore in the form of some incisive through balls and crosses to amplify his impact in the final third
there was no doubting his influence was keenly felt on the defensive end too
supported teammates and was fierce in the challenge
so I have a good connection with him (smiles) and he is also a fantastic lad in the dressing room
He showed us today that he is a real finisher and he didn’t only score easy goals
it’s in his nature,” explained Adi Hutter
he’s making a real impact at the moment with his four goals in three games
He’s really special and he’s adapting well
but now there are several games coming up – he has to stay focused.”
Hitting the ground running superbly since joining in January from Sturm Graz
it’s been hugely encouraging how quickly he’s settled in at AS Monaco
Already on four goals and one assist from just 315 minutes of action in all competitions
he’s been a major boost for Monaco going forward
Both he and all associated with the club will now be hoping he can keep up his momentum in what will be a hectic second half of the season
With a massive Ligue 1 match against Paris Saint-Germain on Friday and the colossal play-off tie vs
Benfica in the Champions League on the horizon
Biereth’s set to be a tremendous asset for Hutter’s men in these crunch fixtures
all the signs are extremely positive that the man who became the first ASM player to score a hat-trick in Ligue 1 since Wissam Ben Yedder in January 2023 can go on to enjoy a long and successful spell in the Principality
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Despite dominating and leading for most of the game
Les Aiglons were pegged back in the final moments by AJ Auxerre on Friday at the Allianz Riviera (1-1)
That’s the best way to sum up the feeling that immediately overtook the Rouge et Noir on Friday night
just moments after the opening match of Matchday 26 of Ligue 1
The three points seemed within reach for Les Aiglons
only to be snatched away in stoppage time by Florian Ayé
Coming off the bench just after the hour mark
the Auxerre striker stunned Marcin Bułka with a powerful shot under the crossbar (1-1
A cruel ending for a Nice side that had controlled the game for most of the night
Just five days after a tough defeat against Lyon (M25
Franck Haise’s men were determined to get back on track at the Allianz Riviera
they faced a giant-slaying Auxerre side that had already beaten Nice in the season opener (M1
1-2) and taken points from both Marseille and PSG
Captain Dante and his teammates initially struggled to break through Christophe Pélissier's well-organised defensive set-up
Baptiste Santamaria came close to opening the scoring
but his shot from the left side of the box could only find the side netting (33’)
he took advantage of a Gaëtan Laborde flick from a Tom Louchet corner
heading the ball home for his 11th Ligue 1 goal of the season
His effort deflected off Kévin Danois before hitting the net behind Donovan Léon (1-0
It was also the Ivorian international’s 12th goal across all competitions
While Guessand’s header was one of the few clear-cut chances for the home side in the first half
the second period was played at a completely different rhythm
Les Aiglons increased the intensity in search of a second goal
Opportunities started to rain down on Léon’s goal: an acrobatic attempt from Hicham Boudaoui that missed the target (54’)
a half-volley from Melvin Bard that grazed the crossbar (56’)
and another strike from Bard that rolled just past the right post (57’)
Le Gym had several chances to secure victory
but Auxerre’s goalkeeper pulled off a stunning triple save to deny Tom Louchet and Boudaoui (66’)
Late substitute Mohamed-Ali Cho also found himself thwarted by the outstanding Léon when well-positioned at the edge of the box (88’)
Despite their superiority in the second half
Les Aiglons had to finish the match with ten men after Bard was sent off for a foul on Danois (87’)
The six minutes of stoppage time ultimately proved fatal for Le Gym
as Florian Ayé’s thunderous strike denied them the victory
With the international break providing a ten-day rest period
Franck Haise’s squad will have time to recharge before a crucial Côte d’Azur derby against Monaco on Saturday 29 March
at 9.05pm—a vital clash in the race for European qualification
Dupé Abdelmonem Bouanani Moukoko
De Percin Muzungu Joly Dioussé
After having played Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday
and ahead of the second leg of their play-off on Wednesday
Stade Brestois are expected to play a weaker side as they prepare to face AJ Auxerre in Ligue 1 on Saturday night
Brendan Chardonnet and Kenny Lala are all expected to be rested for Brest
It will therefore be something of a second-string XI against an Auxerre side looking for their first league win since February
Jordan Amavi and Bradley Locko both remain out
whilst Jonas Martin and Romain Del Castillo also miss out on this encounter
Hugo Magnetti is expected to captain Brest
GFFN | Luke Entwistle
at some point every Ligue 1 McDonald's club needs their reliable Brazilian defender
no one has been more reliable than 31-year-old captain Jubal
who scored a brace against Olympique de Marseille last weekend (3-0) to secure an impressive double for the promoted side against Les Olympiens
The emblematic captain of AJA has now already scored five goals this season
with his duties continuing from the penalty spot against Marseille
with a towering header completing his brace against OM
This season has been a successful one for Jubal
who has thrived in Auxerre's back three set-up under pragmatic Christophe Pélissier
"We knew we could hurt Marseille on the break and we applied ourselves to doing so," smiled the Brazilian following the game
He broke his smile further when he admitted a certain premonition
I had told her that I was going to score twice
I had told Donovan Léon that we would keep a clean sheet...”
Jubal Rocha Mendes Júnior began his life in his native Brazil
coming through at the famous Santos FC where he played 22 matches before making the move to European football and Liga NOS side Arouca
he would get his first taste of Europa League action before joining Vitoria Guimaraes and the Boavista on loan
it was time for Jubal to make the move to La Hexagone
the Brazilian would earn promotion to Ligue 1 McDonald's in 2022 - before suffering relegation and bouncing back at the first attempt last season
Despite rumours of a return back to Brazil in the summer
Jubal would sign a contract extension with Christophe Pélissier's side and continue his adventure in the top tier this season
After becoming the club captain and an emblematic player with Auxerre
he has added a certain goal-scoring touch this season which has certainly helped the club reach their unexpectedly high position in the table this season
with positive values that correspond perfectly to those of the club," his coach
admiringly describes him in an interview with L'Équipe earlier this season
He is growing in stature and expresses himself calmly," explains Pélissier
of his own performances or those of the team
He is a very important relay for me and the staff
He is part of a council of wise men with Elisha Owusu
"He truly embodies his role as captain with poise towards the referees
who exudes a natural class and transmits tranquillity to his partners," finished an admiring Pélissier
It's clear to see why he entrusts so much responsibility to the former Brazil U20 international
As Auxerre got back to winning ways against Marseille
Jubal will be hoping to spur Les Diplomates on for a top-half finish by the end of the season
AJA will face Strasbourg next weekend (Sunday 17:15 CET) as they hope to build on that positive win against Marseille
READ MORE: >>Recap: six-goal thriller between ASSE & Angers, Auxerre dominate Marseille
Lille OSC travelled to the Stade de l’Abbé-Deschamps to face an AJ Auxerre side that have lost only once at home in Ligue 1
Questions were asked but answers were hard to come by in a 0-0 draw coloured by VAR decisions
Les Dogues would be the more disappointed side as they missed an opportunity to leapfrog AS Monaco into third
It was a game of very few chances in the first half
Rémy Cabella had one of the best opportunities for the visitors when he grabbed hold of Ismaily’s low cross to the edge of the penalty box
The winger fired towards goal but his effort clattered into his teammate Aïssa Mandi
Every Lille attack held a threat of collapse
Auxerre pounced on mistakes and within seconds would be down the other end
looking to thread a cross towards Lassine Sinayoko
Delivery was the only issue as Lucas Chevalier was made a bystander
And that’s exactly what happened in the second half
Lille were awarded a penalty when the referee judged Jubal to have fouled Hákon Haraldsson
the referee was asked by VAR to review the action and in doing so he overturned his decision
Haraldsson’s shirt was pulled by Paul Joly as he tried to take a shot
The referee dismissed Lille’s calls for a penalty but was again asked to go to the screen
And again the referee went against his onfield call
A red card for Joly and a penalty followed
Jonathan David stepped up to the spot but the Ligue 1 top scorer was denied by Théo De Percin
And there was perhaps a call for a third penalty for Haraldsson as the Icelandic international was taken out in the immediate aftermath by the Auxerre goalkeeper
it was Auxerre who looked the better team immediately after
Gaëtan Perrin was in full pomp as he looked to test the Lille defence and threaten Chevalier
Lille threw everything at the Auxerre goal but could not find a route through as both teams were left to settle with a point
Ten-man Auxerre looked to challenge Lille on the break and forced some good saves from a goalkeeper who had received rave reviews in the build-up from the Auxerre manager
Whistled after every action in the second half
A villain to the hosts after he almost provided Lille with three penalties
He was perhaps the most threatening player on the pitch for Lille in a very disappointing evening
A rating that is very much informed by the moment that defined this game
It’s not often that Jonathan David misses a penalty
It was the best opportunity of the night for Lille to find a way past a mean Auxerre defence that provided very little space
The shot low and to the left was easily saved by the host’s stand-in goalkeeper
Another 0-0 draw and another heroic goalkeeping performance for Auxerre
This time it would be De Percin rather than Donovan Léon
The goalkeeper had one moment where he looked ill at ease when he passed the ball straight to Rémy Cabella
the defining moment will be his penalty save against Ligue 1’s top scorer
Clément Akpa received his first call-up for the Ivory Coast national team this week
he will play no part for AJ Auxerre as they travel to the Côte d’Azur to face OGC Nice on Friday night
alongside captain Jubal and Sinaly Diomandé
Burnley loanee Han-Noah Massengo is expected to start this game from the bench
This loan spell to L’AJA has not been as impactful as the last
That isn’t helped by being in competition with Kévin Danois
who is having a strong campaign in the midfield
who has experienced a return to form in recent weeks
is expected to lead the line ahead of Lassine Sinayoko