Before the final championship match, AJ Auxerre is still not guaranteed to stay in Ligue 1. Sitting just above the relegation zone, the club from Yonne will face a tough match on Sunday, May 17 against Lille. Amid hope, stress, and popular fervor, Auxerre supporters are gearing up for a tense evening.
Pressure is mounting in Yonne. On Sunday, May 17 at 9 p.m., AJ Auxerre will play a crucial match against Lille, currently third in Ligue 1. A formidable opponent, Lille is still in the running for a direct qualification to the Champions League and will not go easy on Christophe Pelissier’s men.
At the same time, Auxerre will be keeping a close eye on the results of their direct competitors for survival, notably Le Havre and Metz. It will be a decisive evening full of emotions for AJA supporters.
“A team that fights and never gives up”
In Auxerre, discussions revolve around this final matchday. For Sylvie, a loyal AJA supporter, this is a match not to be missed. “I won’t be able to attend due to my son’s baptism, but I will be supporting the team. I will be all in and believe until the end.” Despite the tension, some still want to believe in a positive outcome, like Nolan: “You still see a team that fights and never gives up, until the end. There have been many games where we were not rewarded with the score, so seeing them fight until the end is interesting.”
In the stands of Abbé-Deschamps, a familiar chant echoes week after week: “What we want is Auxerre in Ligue 1.” This popular fervor has been driving the players for several weeks. Just a few hundred meters from the stadium, on a synthetic field, the passion is passed on to the younger generation. Nine-year-old Manoa takes a break after scoring a few goals with his father. The young supporter predicts a 2-1 victory for AJA with goals from Mara and Diomande. His father Thomas mentions Gauthier Hein, a former AJA player now at Metz, who could indirectly play a role in this fight for survival. “Maybe a draw will be enough. Also hoping that on the other side, the Messins and our little Gotcho make the difference, maybe with a goal in the 92nd minute.”
In the North, nearly a thousand Auxerre supporters are expected to travel to support their team. Nine buses will depart from Auxerre with fans, and the away fans section, where 250 members of Ultras Auxerre will be, is already full.
