Auxerre Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Florian Ayé (Ado Onaiwu) · Gaëtan Perrin (Ado Onaiwu / Issa Soumaré) · Gauthier Hein · Lassine Sinayoko (Gaëtan Perrin) · Elisha Owusu (Assane Dioussé) · Rayan Raveloson (Kévin Danois) · Donovan Léon (Théo de Percin) · Gideon Mensah (Clément Akpa) · Théo Pellenard (Saad Agouzoul) · Jubal (Saad Agouzoul) · Paul Joly (Colin Dagba)

Auxerre focuses on a compact defensive unit and quick transitions through a 5-4-1 formation. This lineup is built to play a deep block and wait for the opposition to commit players forward before hitting them on the break. The team looks to sit deep and defend as a single block to deny space between the lines.

Florian Ayé starts between the posts to command the area. The back line operates as a narrow defensive block with three central defenders. Gauthier Hein acts as a ball playing defender to help play out from the back, while Elisha Owusu and Rayan Raveloson provide cover and strength to win the second ball. Gaëtan Perrin and Lassine Sinayoko play as attacking wing backs, tasked with providing width and tracking back to form a back five when the team defends.

The midfield functions as a flat four to squeeze the space in the middle. Jubal and Théo Pellenard form a central pairing to shield the defence and recycle possession. Jubal works to intercept passes and break the line, while Théo Pellenard connects the defensive and attacking lines. Paul Joly on the right and Gideon Mensah on the left provide width in the middle third, looking to carry the ball forward and support the wing backs.

Auxerre uses a lone striker in Donovan Léon to lead the line. Léon acts as a target man to hold up the ball and allow the midfield to move up the pitch. The attacking plan relies on the wingers, Paul Joly and Gideon Mensah, to find space in transition and deliver crosses. The team looks to hit in behind on the transition, using the movement of the wing backs to create wide overloads and isolation for the forwards.

This formation offers great compactness when defending in a low block. By keeping the lines close together, Auxerre makes it difficult for opponents to play through the middle. The team also benefits from the speed of transition when the wing backs, Gaëtan Perrin and Lassine Sinayoko, push forward to support Donovan Léon.

The 5-4-1 formation provides a solid defensive platform for Auxerre to absorb pressure. It is a formation best suited for matches against teams that dominate possession where sitting deep and countering at pace is required.