Monaco vs Lens prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-09-01 19:00.
A busy transfer window has thus far paid off for Monaco, with new manager Adi Hütter guiding his team to an undefeated start (W2, D1). You’d have to go back five seasons to find the last time Monaco opened a Ligue 1 campaign with four games unbeaten, and achieving such a feat would be a fitting tribute to their transformation given they ended last season on a four-game winless streak (D1, L3).
It hasn’t necessarily been plain sailing for the Red and Whites, since their season opened with a come-from-behind 4-2 win over Clermont, before needing to claw their way back from two goals down to draw 3-3 with Nantes last time out. Such performances showcase Monaco’s evident defensive vulnerabilities, but with a 3-0 domination of Strasbourg at the Stade Louis II sandwiched between, a return to home turf could help patch their leaky backline.
While it looks as if Monaco have turned things around from last season, opponents Lens have regressed dramatically, opening this season without victory (D1, L2) – a far cry from their seven successive wins at the end of last season when finishing runners-up. They now run the risk of entering uncharted territory, as only once in their last 20 top-flight seasons have they failed to win any of their first four matches.
The Blood and Gold seemingly couldn’t have asked for a worse matchup in their attempt to stave-off the history books, with their 45 Ligue 1 losses against Monaco the most they suffered against any team! Manager Franck Haise will ensure only recent memory is prevalent in his changing room though, with none of those defeats coming during his current tenure at the club (W4, D2).
Key battle: Takumi Minamino has started the season, and the matches on fire, with four of his five goal contributions coming before half-time (G3, A1). Lens defender Deiver Machado will therefore have his hands busy in defence it seems, but after finding the net in this fixture last season and scoring two goals already this campaign, he could be a threat going forward.
Hot stat: There have been goals scored in both halves in ten of Lens’ last 12 fixtures.