AP Sports Preview: Nice at Auxerre

PARIS (Interstat) — Auxerre hosts Nice on Sunday, May 10, in a Ligue 1 matchup that carries contrasting momentum and statistical uncertainty.

Auxerre, playing at Stade de l’Abbé-Deschamps, comes off a scoreless draw Saturday, May 9, against fourth-division side Jura Sud Foot in the Coupe de France. That result extended Auxerre’s recent run of low-scoring affairs, though the club has avoided defeat in its last three league matches at home.

Nice, meanwhile, drew 1-1 with Racing Club de Lens on Saturday, May 2, in a result that kept the visitors in the upper half of the Ligue 1 table. Nice’s defense has been steady, but the team has struggled to convert chances, scoring only twice in its previous three league outings.

The match is part of the final stretch of the French top-flight season. Nice sits fifth in the standings with 58 points, while Auxerre is ninth with 46 points. A victory for Nice would strengthen its push for European qualification, while Auxerre aims to climb toward the top half.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 1-1 draw, a reflection of the teams’ recent offensive inefficiency. However, Interstat’s ELO system gives Nice a 64.90 percent probability of winning, suggesting a statistical edge for the visitors despite the simulation’s draw forecast. The discrepancy highlights the uncertainty surrounding both sides’ attacking form.

Key players for Nice include forward Gaëtan Laborde, who scored in the draw against Lens, and midfielder Khéphren Thuram, who orchestrates the attack. For Auxerre, striker Lassine Sinayoko leads the line but has gone three matches without a goal.

Auxerre’s defense, anchored by captain Jubal, has conceded only four goals in its last five home games. Nice’s back line, marshaled by Jean-Clair Todibo, has allowed one goal in its past two away matches.

Sunday’s match kicks off at 9 p.m. local time. Officials expect a near-capacity crowd.

The teams last met in December 2025, a 2-1 win for Nice at home. Auxerre has not beaten Nice at home since 2023.

With both teams trending toward draws and Interstat’s projections split, Sunday’s result could hinge on a moment of individual brilliance — or a defensive lapse.