Lens vs Nantes prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-10-27 19:00.
After an encouraging three-game winning streak across all competitions, Lens appear to be slowing down with a run of three consecutive draws, bookended by a 1-1 stalemate with PSV in the UEFA Champions League this week. That result followed a goalless Ligue 1 draw against promoted Le Havre last weekend, leaving Lens with a meagre one-point buffer from the bottom three ahead of the round.
They’re becoming increasingly desperate for points, as their current haul of nine after nine Ligue 1 rounds is only marginally more points they had at this stage the last three times the club were relegated to Ligue 2! On a more positive note, just two competitive home losses this calendar year (W11, D4) suggests that Lens should extend their eight-match home unbeaten run against Nantes in Ligue 1 (W5, D3) that dates back to 2003.
Unlike their hosts, Nantes are gaining positive momentum with four victories across their last five league matches (L1), culminating in a 2-0 win at Montpellier on Sunday. It was a victory that manager Pierre Aristouy felt “eases the pressure” on the squad, and while the Canaries sit outside the top six on goal difference only prior to this round, it still represents their best nine-game start to a Ligue 1 season since 2019/20.
They finished 13th on that occasion, so there’s plenty of work still to do, and that includes securing consecutive away victories in the top flight for the first time since December 2021. It was a job half done prior to the international break with a 2-1 victory at Strasbourg, and fortunately for Aristouy in search of that milestone, he will be able to count on top scorer Mostafa Mohamed (five goals), who has completed his two-match suspension.
Players to watch: Lens may get off to a good start through Florian Sotoca as he was his team’s first scorer in his last six Ligue 1 goal scoring appearances. Moses Simon will be closely watched by his opponents after contributing to Nantes' last four league goals against Lens (G3, A1).
Hot stat: Nantes began this round one of only three Ligue 1 sides that have not trailed at half-time this season (HT: W3, D6).