This Friday at 8 p.m. (CET), Paris Saint-Germain (2nd) faces Auxerre (17th) at the Stade Abbé-Deschamps for Matchday 19 of the 2025-2026 Ligue 1 season. In a press conference, Auxerre defender Clément Akpa (24 years old) spoke about the upcoming match and their Parisian opponent.
Akpa: “What we need to do is avoid taking risks where they expect us to.”
“How do we pull off an upset?
What we need to do is avoid taking risks where they expect us to. We have to be extremely demanding of ourselves and not take any unnecessary risks.”
Building on last season’s draw?
For the players who were here last season, experience should be a valuable asset. At home, we’re fortunate to have a supportive crowd behind us, which is a real advantage.
Akpa: “Staying up won’t be decided against Paris”
A bonus match in relation to staying up?
“Staying up won’t be decided against Paris, but we’re in a situation where we can’t afford to neglect any match,” remarks reported by L’Yonne Républicaine.
For Auxerre, this Auxerre/PSG match is anything but a mere prestige game. In a season where every point can be crucial in the relegation battle, hosting Paris represents a rare opportunity: the chance to pull off an upset, fueled by the Abbé-Deschamps stadium and the still-fresh collective memory of last season’s draw. Clément Akpa’s message is clear, almost clinical: discipline, high standards, zero unnecessary risks. Auxerre knows it can’t afford to make any mistakes.
For Paris Saint-Germain, the equation is different. Important, yes, but this away match comes at a pivotal time in the Champions League, where managing both players’ strength and morale becomes paramount. That’s precisely where Auxerre wants to strike. While Paris is focused on Europe, Auxerre is focused on the league table. And it’s in this difference in priorities that danger often arises.
