Tuanzebe starts as Auxerre come back to beat Brest

Axel Tuanzebe started Auxerre’s 2-1 win over Brest on September 20, in Ligue 1’s fifth round. AJA recovered from a half-time deficit to secure a second consecutive victory.

The club’s match record places Mboup’s opener in the 23rd minute. Cameron Archer equalised in the 47th, before a Le Guen own goal in the 83rd completed the turnaround. Tuanzebe started in defence alongside Makosso and Akpa.

The same trio had started against Nice eight days earlier. Auxerre won that game 1-0, Archer scoring in the 74th minute to deliver their first league victory of the season. Together, the two team sheets establish continuity in the defensive selection, rather than merely confirming that a new signing has joined the squad.

Tuanzebe arrived as a free agent after Burnley, signing on September 1 for one season with an optional additional year. Auxerre gave him the number 4 shirt. In announcing the deal, the club recalled his Manchester United and Ipswich background and his participation in the 2026 World Cup with DR Congo.

For followers of the Leopards, the significant development is his immediate involvement in the starting side for these two wins. It does not guarantee his place for the rest of the season, but it provides an early picture of his role: a recruit already being used on the pitch, rather than simply added to the squad list.