Lens vs PSG prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2024-01-13 19:45.
This would have been billed as a potential title decider in Ligue 1 last season, but Lens so far have been a shadow of the side that pushed PSG all the way last term. A 2-0 defeat away to Nice before the winter break left them seventh in the table, but given that was their only league loss in 12 matches (W7, D4) it would be fair to say Franck Haise’s men have been on the up across these past few months.
That said, their 2024 did start on the wrong foot as they were beaten on penalties in the Coupe de France at home to Monaco (2-2) last weekend. That ended a run of five straight competitive wins at Estadio Bollaert-Delelis and was Lens’ first defeat in front of their home fans since September. The locals shouldn’t be too downbeat coming into this game though, especially as their team boast a respectable record across the last three home H2Hs (W2, D1).
While you could make a case that gives PSG a small psychological hurdle to overcome, they still head into the contest as hot favourites, and understandably so. They beat Toulouse at the start of the month 2-0 in the Trophée des Champions and then followed it up with a dominant 9-0 Coupe de France win over lower-league Revel. Those victories extended the French champions' run to just one defeat from their last 16 competitive outings (W12, D3).
Although things are ticking along nicely in Luis Enrique’s camp, the visitors would be unwise to be too complacent coming into this match, especially as PSG have a knack for starting the calendar year slow in the Ligue 1 competition. The Parisians are winless in their last four league games to open a new year (D3, L1), and after Lens defeated them 3-1 in their opening game of 2023, they’ll be hoping lightning doesn't strike twice.
Players to watch: Lens midfielder Przemysław Frankowski opened the scoring in that aforementioned 3-1 win and has netted three goals since the start of December, each of which came at home. Opponent Marco Asensio should enter this on a high after amassing three goal contributions against Revel (G1, A2) and he also scored in the 3-1 PSG win in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
Hot streak: PSG haven’t conceded before half-time in any of their last seven matches.