Lens vs Clermont prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2024-04-19 19:00.
[p]After such a strong showing for much of the season, Lens are at risk of ending their campaign with nothing to show for it if their recent form continues. Franck Haise’s troops are now winless in their last four games after critical losses to the two teams starting this round directly above them in fourth (Lille) and fifth (Nice). Things then went from bad to worse when they dropped another five points through a 1-1 draw and a 2-1 loss against relegation contenders Le Havre and Metz. [/p]
[p]The Blood and Gold subsequently dropped down to sixth place in the Ligue 1 standings, and are at risk of falling out of the European spots with a red-hot Lyon outfit breathing down their necks just two points behind. Despite winning their last four games against next opponents Clermont, nerves could be rife among the Stade Bollaert-Delelis faithful after they witnessed defeats in half of Lens’ last eight home matches (W2, D2).[/p]
[p]Last-placed Clermont have much greater worries as their campaign draws to a potentially miserable close. Just four league wins all season have severely handicapped the Lancers, who with five games remaining are still 14 points behind the 36-point haul that saw them avoid the drop by one place in 2021/22. [/p]
[p]Recent back-to-back 1-1 draws have kept the points ticking over slowly, especially with a noteworthy effort coming against league-leaders PSG, but there’ll be a sense of disappointment given that Pascal Gastien’s men led at half-time in each of those games. That took their tally of points dropped when leading in Ligue 1 games this season to 12, which could ultimately prove to be their downfall come the final day. [/p]
[p]Key battle: Lens forward Elye Wahi scored and got sent off in his side’s 3-0 win in the reverse fixture, which contributed to him netting his team’s opener in 12 of his last 15 goalscoring outings. Clermont’s veteran midfielder Johan Gastien will mainly try to cut off service to Wahi and company, but he may also venture forward since his last two goals have both come away from home. [/p]
[p]Hot streak: The last five H2Hs all produced over 2.5 total goals.[/p]