OGC Nice Faces Auxerre in Crucial Ligue 1 Matchup

Nice, France — OGC Nice will host AJ Auxerre on Friday, March 14, 2025, at 8:45 p.m. in the opening match of the 26th round of Ligue 1. The game is critical for both teams as they navigate the final stretch of the season.

Coach Franck Haise emphasized the need for his team to perform at a high level, stating, “Il faudra qu’on soit à un très bon niveau pour les battre.” Nice enters this match seeking to maintain their podium position after a recent setback against Olympique Lyonnais, where they suffered a 2-0 defeat.

Despite the loss, Nice aims to stay competitive in the race for a Champions League spot, needing a strong performance against Auxerre, which has shown signs of improvement. Auxerre won two of their last three Ligue 1 matches, contrasting sharply with their previous 10-game winless stretch.

Key player Hamed Junior Traoré, the Ivorian international loaned from Bournemouth, has emerged as Auxerre’s standout performer, scoring 10 league goals, including one last week in a 2-0 victory over Reims. Auxerre finds itself just three points shy of the top half of the table.

The referee for Friday’s encounter will be Abdelatif Kherradji, flanked by assistants Aurélien Drouet and Thomas Luczynski. Video assistant referees Eric Wattelier and Philippe Lucas will oversee the technology.

In the broader context of Ligue 1, both teams share similar pressing strategies, with Nice attempting high-intensity pressing on just 43% of balls played, while Auxerre is slightly higher at 45.2%.

The game will be broadcast live on DAZN. In addition to the Nice-Auxerre match, fans can also catch other Ligue 1 action over the weekend, including FC Nantes against LOSC Lille on Saturday and Olympique Lyonnais facing Havre AC on Sunday.

Historically, Nice has fared well against Auxerre, finding the net in their last six encounters. However, Auxerre has a slight edge historically, claiming 7 victories out of the last 13 Ligue 1 matchups between the two since the 2007-08 season.

With both teams feeling the pressure, the outcome of this match is expected to carry significant implications for their respective seasons as they battle for crucial points in Ligue 1.