Lens vs Freiburg prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2024-02-14 20:00.
After failing to advance from their Champions League group this season, French side Lens now find themselves in the UEFA Europa League knockout round play-offs thanks to their third-placed finish behind Arsenal and PSV. In what is their first European campaign since the 2007/08 âUEFA Cupâ, the hosts should be buoyed by a 3-1 Ligue 1 victory over Strasbourg at the weekend which took their winning league run to three straight matches.
With two of their victories in that sequence being accompanied by a clean sheet, a strong defensive performance could be Lensâ best route towards obtaining success here in the first leg at Stade Bollaert-Delelis. As the hosts went unbeaten across their three home Champions League group stage matches this campaign, including 2-1 wins over Arsenal and Sevilla, they ought to be confident of extending that undefeated streak even further in European competition.
Bundesliga outfit Freiburg are their opposition for this two-legged tie after finishing second in their Europa League group, and as theyâve lost their last three consecutive outings in the German Bundesliga, theyâll make the relatively short journey to northern France short of recent success. Perhaps most concerningly, each of those defeats saw the away side concede exactly three goals – an area in which Christian Streichâs side usually excel – which is beginning to prove cause for concern amongst the clubâs fanbase.
The visitors will also likely not be looking forward to returning to the road, as theyâve lost each of their last four competitive away outings, whilst also conceding at least two goals in all four. One of those defeats came during the Europa League group stage when they fell 2-0 to West Ham at London Stadium, but looking further back to their two group stage away victories in September and October could offer Freiburg some much-needed confidence.
Players to watch: Lensâ Elye Wahi took his tally to five goals across all competitions at the weekend, two of which came on home soil in the Champions League earlier this season. As for Freiburg, they could draw inspiration from Lucas Höler, who has scored six competitive goals this term with three acting as match openers.
Hot stat: During the Europa League group stage, only BK Hacken (five) received fewer yellow cards than Freiburg (six).