Lens vs Auxerre prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2025-04-26 15:15.
[p]Time is running out for Lens in the race for European qualification, but their 3-1 come-from-behind win away to Brest at the weekend demonstrated that they are determined to continue fighting. A seventh European slot will open up in Ligue 1 if PSG win the Coupe de France in May, but the Blood and Gold have a six-point gap to bridge to the top seven before that can concern them.[/p]
[p]What continues to elude them is consistency, with their current 15-game streak in this competition without a draw (W7, L8) featuring just one instance of following up an away victory with another at home. Perhaps more ominously as far as their upcoming meeting with Auxerre is concerned, that 15-game period also saw them lose four times as home favourites, including against current bottom-half clubs Toulouse (1-0), Reims (2-0) and Le Havre (4-3). [/p]
[p]Auxerre were the last team to draw with Lens (2-2), and only three sides in the division have had more stalemates than their eight pre-round. Their survival could be mathematically assured before they even kick-off here, so even another draw could go down well with the visitors after a pair of bruising 3-1 losses to top-six contenders Lille and Lyon.[/p]
[p]That trip to Lille ended a four-game unbeaten run on the road in this competition (W2, D2), during which they either challenged or conquered higher ranked clubs Brest (D 2-2), Rennes (W 1-0) and Nice (D 1-1). That points to Auxerre being a difficult obstacle once again for Lens, and even if it’s not enough to win the game, they promise to at least get on the scoresheet having netted in 11 of their last 12 Ligue 1 fixtures. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: After equalising against Brest, 12 of Goduine Koyalipou’s last 15 league goals were his team’s first, with none of the 13 scoring appearances therein ending in defeat (W9, D4). Auxerre’s Gaëtan Perrin is looking to end a seven-game scoring drought and could be inspired by the team opener he scored in the reverse H2H. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: A league-high 70% of Lens’ games this Ligue 1 season produced under 2.5 total goals. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Aaron Murphy[/i][/p]