Efficiency key to AJ Auxerre’s success this season | OneFootball

Thanks to its dynamic attack, AJ Auxerre will be playing top-flight football beyond this season.

The 2023-24 Ligue 2 champions have officially survived relegation this time around and could earn as many as 50 points in the top flight for the first time since the 2009-10 campaign (71).

Despite being one of the newcomers to Ligue 1, the Burgundy club has not shown any signs of intimidation against the experienced sides at this level, as Christophe Pélissier’s men have often attempted to play on the front foot.

His attacking approach has been rewarded, with Auxerre netting 46 goals in Ligue 1 through 32 matchdays. That’s their highest total to this stage of a top-flight season since 2003-04, when they scored 48 times after 31 league fixtures.

That season, they were aided by the brilliance of Djibril Cissé, who finished the campaign with 26 league goals, as AJA finished fourth and claimed a place in the UEFA Cup, today known as the Europa League.

Auxerre have had two stars step up in Bournemouth loanee Hamed Traoré (25) and Gaëtan Perrin (28), scoring 10 and nine goals, respectively, in 32 league fixtures.

While Perrin, Lassine Sinayoko (25), and Traoré have been among the top providers, this team have been middle of the pack regarding big chances created, according to FotMob, sitting 13th with 63. At the same time, AJA have been decisive when scoring opportunities have presented themselves, with the fewest big chances missed in Ligue 1 after 31 matchdays per FotMob.

In 2024-25, Auxerre have scored in 25 encounters and have only been shut out on seven occasions.

GFFN | Joel Lefevre