Le Mans FC will have to deal with a lengthy injury list for their trip to face Auxerre on Sunday 25 October (17:15) in Ligue 1. The promoted side, sitting 16th with six points from seven games, will be without Adil Bourabaa for around three months, while Harold Voyer remains a doubt for the fixture. The team faces an Auxerre side currently in 13th place.
Head coach Patrick Videira confirmed the setbacks. "Le Mans FC will have to deal with several major absences on the AJ Auxerre pitch, Sunday 25 October (17:15),” he said. Bourabaa, who has three goals and two assists this season, will not return until January. Erwan Colas is in a recovery phase for a back injury, and Martin Rossignol is also ruled out. Théo Eyoum is injured. The confirmed absentees also include A. Bourabaa, E. Colas and H. Voyer.
This injury crisis comes at a difficult time. Le Mans, sitting 16th with six points from seven games, are on a three-match losing streak, including a 0-3 home defeat to Toulouse last time out. That loss to Toulouse on 16 October follows a 3-1 defeat to Paris Saint Germain on 10 October and a 2-1 loss to Guingamp on 2 October. Their form over the last five matches reads one win, one draw and three defeats. The team is yet to keep a clean sheet this season and has conceded fifteen goals while scoring only ten, for a goal difference of -5. They also trail league leaders Lyon by eight points. The attacking burden will fall more heavily on top scorer Louis Mafouta, who has four goals in seven appearances. The probable lineup is expected to be a 3-5-2 with Kocik in goal, shielded by Sidibé, Yohou and Boissé. The midfield would feature Buades, Vercruysse, Lauray, Traoré and Calodat, with Mafouta and Diallo up front.
This match at the Abbé-Deschamps is key in the relegation battle. Le Mans, who have won only one of their first seven games, with three draws and three losses, need a result to climb out of the drop zone. The upcoming fixtures will be decisive after the international break. The squad must adapt without its key men until the new year.
Read the full report at quimper.maville.com
