Lens vs Lyon prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2022-10-01 18:45.
As one of three Ligue 1 teams left with an unbeaten record this season, Lens will not only be putting their 2022/23 run on the line (W5, D3) against Lyon, but also their wider top-flight exemplary run of 16 games unbeaten (W10, D6). Stretching that record with an 11th win would also see Lens open their Ligue 1 campaign with five straight home wins for only the second time ever and the first since 1985/86.
Lens can count themselves unlucky not to be partaking in European football this season, but missing out by just four points last season seems to have fuelled their current push. Retaining boss Franck Haise who was linked with the Brighton job should further raise hopes that a first European campaign since 2007/08 could be on the cards, but having never won a managerial H2H against Lyon, that push could slow a little here.
Three defeats on the spin against three clubs in the Ligue 1 top-five ahead of the round has perhaps put a dampener on what was otherwise an impressive start for Lyon. A five-game unbeaten run opened their league season, and with no European football to muddy the waters of their Ligue 1 campaign, Lyon can focus all their efforts on securing a top-five finish and a return to Europe for next season.
With fresh investment on the horizon from multi-million pound investor John Textor, a man who recently pumped £90 million into Crystal Palace for a 40% stake in the club, Lyon could be eyeing up a windfall to get them back among Europe’s elite. They must help themselves too by quickly ending their current losing run, and with just one defeat in away 11 Ligue H2Hs against Lens (W5, D5) and having never lost four Ligue 1 games in a row since 1991, you would fancy them to do so.
Players to watch: Lens’ Florian Sotoca has opened the scoring inside 30 minutes in his two goalscoring appearances this season, both at home. Meanwhile, each of Lyon’s three away league goals this season have been scored by different players, but any Moussa Dembélé away goal may come with his head, as three of his last five have been headers.
Hot stat: Lens have scored at least twice in eight of their last nine Ligue 1 home games (W7, D2).