PSG Face Tricky Trip to Struggling Auxerre in Ligue 1

AUXERRE, 23 January 2026 – Paris Saint-Germain will look to consolidate their position near the top of Ligue 1 when they travel to face relegation-threatened AJ Auxerre at the Stade de l’Abbé-Deschamps on Friday evening.

Fixture Details & Form Guide

The match, scheduled for a 7pm GMT kick-off, pits a PSG side sitting second in the table against an Auxerre outfit mired in a relegation battle. The Parisians, under Luis Enrique, have seen their form dip recently with defeats in both the UEFA Champions League and Coupe de France, adding pressure on the Spanish manager.

Despite the recent setbacks, Enrique struck a defiant tone in his pre-match press conference, laughing off critics who have questioned his side’s mentality. “What courage you have,” he remarked to journalists, suggesting external pressure is not a concern within the PSG camp.

The hosts, managed by Christophe Pélissier, find themselves in 17th place with just 12 points from 15 matches. Their form has been poor, failing to score in their last two outings and without a clean sheet in six. In stark contrast, PSG boast the best defensive record in the competition with nine clean sheets.

Injury Crisis Mars PSG’s Build-Up

PSG’s preparations have been severely hampered by a mounting injury crisis. Captain Marquinhos remains sidelined with a thigh issue, joining a lengthy list of absentees that includes Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, the exciting young midfielder Désiré Doué, and the Portuguese midfielder João Neves.

Further suspensions rule out full-back Achraf Hakimi and left-back Nuno Mendes, while injuries have also claimed the versatile midfielder Kang-In Lee. This leaves Luis Enrique with significant selection headaches, particularly in defence and midfield.

Head-to-Head Record & Key Stats

Team News & Predicted Lineups

With such a depleted squad, Luis Enrique is expected to field a makeshift backline. The predicted PSG lineup (4-2-3-1) features Lucas Chevalier in goal, protected by a central defensive pairing of Illia Zabarnyi and Marquinhos. The full-back roles are likely to be filled by Lucas Hernández and the returning Willian Pacho, though the suspensions of Hakimi and Mendes force changes.

In midfield, the absence of João Neves and Kang-In Lee should see Warren Zaïre-Emery partner Vitinha, with the creative burden falling to the fit-again Senny Mayulu. The attacking trio is set to be led by the league’s joint-top scorer, Bradley Barcola, supported by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and the returning Gonçalo Ramos.

For Auxerre, manager Christophe Pélissier has a near full-strength squad to choose from, with only defender Francisco Sierralta ruled out through injury. He is expected to maintain his preferred 5-3-2 formation, with Donovan Léon in goal and a back five of Sinaly Diomandé, Clément Akpa, and Marvin Senaya.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does Auxerre vs PSG kick off?

The Ligue 1 match between AJ Auxerre and Paris Saint-Germain is scheduled to kick off at 19:00 UTC on Friday, 23 January 2026. For viewers in the United Kingdom, this translates to a 20:00 local time start in France.

Where can I watch Auxerre vs PSG?

Broadcast details for the match in the United Kingdom will be confirmed closer to the fixture date. Typically, Ligue 1 matches are shown on TNT Sports or via streaming services such as Discovery+.

What is PSG’s current league position?

Heading into this match, Paris Saint-Germain are second in the Ligue 1 table with 39 points from 17 matches. They trail leaders RC Lens by a single point.

How many goals has Lassine Sinayoko scored this season?

The Malian striker Lassine Sinayoko is Auxerre’s top scorer for the 2025/26 campaign, having netted six goals in his 17 Ligue 1 appearances.