Auxerre and Le Mans should test each other's first pass from very different shapes. Auxerre's compact back line can release the ball through midfield into runners behind the defence. Le Mans can press that outlet and look for Mafouta or a restart. The quality of the first clean shot should decide which spell of pressure matters.
Danois has recently connected with Faivre, Namaso and Archer for genuine box chances, while Le Mans's press asks Bretelle and Vercruysse to stop that first central pass. At Le Havre, Auxerre's attacking chain created repeated close-range finishes, and their expected back three all played the full match. Le Mans now have to replace Voyer, who left the Toulouse game injured, and Larouci on the wing; Bourabaa and Colas had already missed that game. Calodat has shown useful supply in shorter spells, so Le Mans still have a way into the box, but Auxerre's established connections look better placed to turn the early midfield contest into a decisive finish. That's why I'm siding with Auxerre.
