Lens vs Auxerre

Saturday afternoon at Stade Bollaert-Delelis sees a head coach with a point to prove when Lens host Auxerre on the opening weekend of the 2026-27 Ligue 1 season. Will Still, who led Lens briefly before departing for England, returns to French football in the Auxerre dugout for his first competitive match against his former employers.

It is a fixture loaded with early-season unknowns. Lens have lifted the curtain on their campaign already, contesting the Trophée des Champions against Paris Saint-Germain, while Auxerre arrive in the Pas-de-Calais with a revamped squad and a new tactical identity under their 33-year-old Belgian-born English coach.

Team News and Injury Latest

Dino Toppmöller is contending with several fitness concerns in his Lens squad. Jonathan Gradit has returned to group training following a complicated injury, but the manager has stressed he will not take risks with the defender’s comeback. Jhoanner Chávez is not yet back to full fitness and continues individual work, while Odsonne Édouard remains a doubt after training individually with a groin issue.

On a more positive note, Nidal Celik returned to team training in mid-August and could make the squad. The Trophée des Champions team sheet offered further clues: French Under-21 international Ismaëlo Ganiou was expected to start against PSG alongside new signing Maik Nawrocki, with Saud Abdulhamid set to feature at right wing-back after his permanent move from Roma. Robin Risser is expected to start in goal.

Auxerre, meanwhile, have a fresh look between the posts. Mamadou Diop has joined from Grenoble and is expected to begin the campaign as the starting goalkeeper, with former Lorient stopper Paul Nardi providing experienced competition.

Auxerre’s Summer Rebuild Under Still

Still’s appointment marks a deliberate shift in approach after nearly four years under Christophe Pélissier. Known for his intense, pressing style from his Reims tenure, Still inherits a squad that has undergone significant turnover.

The most notable departure is Lassine Sinayoko, whose 12 Ligue 1 goals – including six in the final seven matches – were instrumental in keeping Auxerre in the top flight. His brace at Lille on the penultimate weekend effectively secured survival. Sinayoko has joined Paris FC in an €8 million deal. Long-serving goalkeeper Donovan Léon has also moved on, joining Saudi Arabian side Abha Club.

Incoming transfers offer a blend of promise and experience. Arthur Piedfort, a 21-year-old midfielder signed from Westerlo, registered three goals and three assists in Belgium’s top flight last season. Congo international Christ Makosso has arrived from Luton Town to reinforce the defence, while Sékou Fofana joined from Lausanne-Sport. Romain Faivre remains at the Abbé-Deschamps on a renewed loan and will be tasked with providing creative spark alongside new arrivals Danny Namaso and Lens loanee Rémy Labeau-Lascary.

Lens Form and Tactical Shape

Lens enter the new domestic campaign buoyed by a successful 2025-26 season that delivered a Coupe de France trophy – secured with a 3-1 final victory over Nice – and a second-place Ligue 1 finish behind Paris Saint-Germain. Those achievements earned Champions League football and a place in the Trophée des Champions, which served as a competitive tune-up ahead of this opener.

Toppmöller has lost key contributors over the summer. Allan Saint-Maximin departed for Charlotte FC, Mamadou Sangaré joined Brentford, and Adrien Thomasson moved to Rennes. The midfield pairing of Andrija Bulatovic and new arrival Michaël Cuisance – the former Bayern Munich man who joined this summer – is expected to anchor the centre of the pitch.

Further forward, Florian Thauvin remains the primary creative outlet, capable of operating between the lines and shooting from distance. Abdallah Sima offers pace in behind, and should Édouard be ruled out, the attacking burden will fall more heavily on that duo.

Key Battle: Lens Build-Up vs Auxerre’s High Press

Perhaps the most intriguing tactical subplot concerns Auxerre’s desire to press more aggressively under Still. Lens build patient attacks with high-positioned wide players and rely on the quality of the first pass from their back line. If Auxerre can disrupt that initial distribution – with Piedfort and Faivre key to turning defence into attack – they may prevent the hosts from settling into their rhythm.

Conversely, Lens’ ball-playing defenders will look to draw Auxerre’s press before playing through the lines. The success or failure of that approach could define the afternoon.

Both sides will use this opening round as a measure of their off-season work. Lens travel to Strasbourg the following weekend, while Auxerre host Angers as the early-season calendar demands quick adaptation.