Lens vs Clermont prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2022-11-11 16:00.
Lens will welcome Clermont following a period of impressive form, having beat Angers 2-1 last time out to mark four successive Ligue 1 victories for the first time since 2001/02. Whilst manager Franck Haise may be a little disappointed to be trailing five points behind the seemingly infallible leaders PSG, he should be impressed with his side who have not been placed as high as second after 14 league games since that same season 21 years ago.
That victory marked their 20th top-flight win of the calendar year, already equalling their highest-ever tally, so a win over Clermont may seem like a straightforward equation. When you add in their home exploits, which has led to the Blood and Gold winning seven consecutive games (the last four with a clean sheet) at the Bollaert-Delelis for the first time this century, the case for Lens becomes remarkably compelling.
Since being promoted to Ligue 1 in 2020/21, Clermont have demonstrated their progression by being six points better off than at this same point of the previous season. Whilst they were perhaps unfortunate to draw 1-1 with Montpellier, after missing two penalty kicks, that result did extend their winless league run to four games (D3, L1). Manager Pascal Gastien was in no mood to panic, telling media that ââthese are things that happen in footballââ.
Gastien might hope that ambivalence doesnât play out on the pitch against a side theyâve beaten only once away from home. With nine of Clermont's last ten league away goals coming after half-time, heâll know that it might need to be a case of biding his time as they face a side who have conceded just one first-half goal at home this Ligue 1 campaign!
Key battle: Florian Sotoca is the only Lens player in double figures for goals and assists since they re-joined Ligue 1 in 2020/21, and has also provided assists in successive games for the first time this season. Aiming to thwart him will be defender Florent Ogier, who has never tasted victory against Sotoca (D2, L3) with the Lens marksman also netting the last time they met here.
Hot stat: Lens have struck first in their last eight Ligue 1 home games, whilst Clermont have scored only one first-half goal on the road this season!