Fri Nov 08 20:23:54 UTC 2024: ## Marseille Look to Bounce Back at Home Against In-Form Auxerre

**Marseille** will be looking to rectify their poor home form when they host **Auxerre** on Friday night in Ligue 1. Despite sitting in second place after a crucial win over Nantes last weekend, Marseille have struggled at the Stade Velodrome, winning only one of their first five league matches.

Meanwhile, Auxerre have been on a remarkable run, climbing to 10th place after a string of impressive results. Their home form has been particularly strong, with 12 of their 13 points earned at the Stade de l’Abbe-Deschamps, including a recent 4-0 victory over Rennes.

However, Auxerre have struggled on the road, losing all but one away game this season. This clash against a resurgent Marseille side will be a tough test for the visitors, who have lost in six of their last eight trips to the Velodrome.

Marseille will be buoyed by the return of **Amine Harit** from suspension, who is expected to slot back into the starting XI. The attacking midfielder will join forces with **Mason Greenwood**, who is currently one goal behind the league’s leading scorer.

Auxerre, on the other hand, face a defensive crisis with **Jubal** and **Sinaly Diomande** suspended, and **Paul Joly** and **Ange Loic N’Gatta** also sidelined through injury. Manager **Christophe Pelissier** will likely have to call upon under-used players to fill the gaps.

Despite their poor home form, Marseille will be strong favorites heading into this match. Their attacking prowess, coupled with Auxerre’s defensive woes, suggests a difficult evening for the visitors.

**Possible Starting Lineups:**

* **Marseille:** Rulli; Lirola, Balerdi, Brassier, Merlin; Kondogbia, Hojbjerg; Greenwood, Harit, Luiz Henrique; Rowe
* **Auxerre:** Leon; Osho, Akpa, Pellenard; Hoever, Owusu, Danois, Mensah; Perrin, Bair, Hamed Traore

**Key Takeaways:**

* Marseille, despite their strong position in the league, will be looking to improve their home form against a resurgent Auxerre side.
* Auxerre’s impressive run has seen them climb to 10th place but they will be severely depleted in defense against a potent Marseille attack.
* The match presents a significant challenge for Auxerre, who are yet to establish themselves as a strong away side.

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