Auxerre, led by Guy Roux from 1961 to 2005, have not changed since their colourful former manager retired and Jean Fernandez, who took charge in 2006, has the same modest philosophy.
While Roux only talked about staying in the top flight when his team were en route to their only league title in 1996, Fernandez barely concedes Auxerre might secure a top-three finish that would guarantee at least a Champions League play-off spot.
"If we only win one of our four remaining games we will be in the top five," Fernandez told Reuters on Wednesday.
"If we win two of them, then yes we might finish in the top three. But it is still too soon to talk about a Champions League spot."
Auxerre, who have the top-flight's best defence, have lost only one of their last 19 league games while Marseille are on a seven-match winning streak.
Marseille coach Didier Deschamps also tried to play down the significance of Friday's game.
"It's not a final. At the end of a final there is a trophy. There will be nothing (after this game)," he told reporters.
"There are only three possible results. Two are good for us, one is not."
"Mathematically we will not be champions if we win at Auxerre. But that would be a huge step towards the title," said Valbuena.
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas was confident his team would bounce back from Tuesday's Champions League semi-final elimination by Bayern Munich.
"It will be tough but Lyon are a great team and great teams never die," he said.
