Lens vs Lille prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-03-03 16:00.
Lens must put aside their midweek Coupe de France disappointment (L 2-1 vs Nantes) and regroup for the 117th competitive âDerby du Nordâ against Lille. That defeat was just their second in six competitive matches (W2, D2) but it leaves them free to concentrate on their bid to qualify for Europe via the league, where theyâre challenging for a top-three finish.
Their home form has been key to that European push this season, having only lost one of their last 17 home league games (W14, D2) while conceding no more than once across the last nine of those fixtures (W8, L1). Though just one win across the last seven league derbies theyâve hosted against Lille (D3, L3) means a strong showing is required here, albeit that sole triumph did arrive via a 1-0 win last term.
Lilleâs cup exit last month means theyâve had over a week to prepare for this crunch clash after recovering from conceding an early own goal to beat Brest 2-1 last Friday to keep their hopes of European football next term alive. A ferocious Mastiffs frontline has scored 45 goals in manager Paulo Fonsecaâs first 25 matches in charge, the most in their first 25 games under a new boss since 1979!
Travelling hasnât stemmed the goals for a side which has netted three times in each of their last two league away games (W1, L1), though defensive vulnerabilities threaten to drag them down as theyâve conceded first before half-time in their last three Ligue 1 road trips. There should be little excuse for starting slowly here as itâs just under a 40-kilometre trip, but theyâll be without Fonseca on the bench, who serves a ban after receiving a red card in Lilleâs last outing.
Players to watch: Lensâ PrzemysĆaw Frankowski netted the only goal of the game in this fixture last term, and both his league strikes this season also opened the scoring here. However, Jonathan David scored the winner for Lille when these two sides met in October and six of his eight league goals since arrived before the 60th minute.
Hot stat: The away team on the day hasnât scored a second-half goal in six of the last seven H2Hs (Lille: W4, L3).