Troyes vs Lens prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-01-27 16:00.
This is proving to be a difficult period for Troyes, who enter this game with just one win from their previous 11 Ligue 1 matches (D5, L5), bookended by a 5-1 defeat against Lille last time out. As a consequence of that poor run, ESTAC are looking anxiously over their shoulder as they find themselves just three points clear of the relegation zone ahead of the round, but coach Patrick Kisnorbo remains positive, stating that he saw “some good things" in spite of that heavy defeat against Lille.
A home game is unlikely to provide much comfort for Troyes, who have won just one of their nine top-flight games at Stade de l’Aube, although six draws in those games proves they’ve been relatively hard to beat. With no new arrivals expected at Troyes in this winter transfer window, they have at least been buoyed by news their talented 18-year-old prospect Wilson Odobert has extended his contract until 2027 this week.
It’s been a great first half of the season for Lens, who sit second in Ligue 1 after 19 rounds (W13, D5, L1), provoking dreams of a first UEFA Champions League appearance after a 20-year absence. Lens have had cup success too, advancing to the French Cup round of 16 after a 3-1 win at Brest last weekend which extended the Sang et Or’s unbeaten run to 11 matches in the process (W9, D2).
Coach Frank Haise and his team also won 3-1 in this corresponding Ligue 1 fixture last season, a result which forms part of four straight wins for Lens against Troyes at all venues. More fans than normal will make the approximate 300 kilometre trip to Stade de l'Aube after Troyes upped the away ticket allocation to 2700 (from 1000) for this game, and with that vociferous support behind them, Lens will hope to draw level with PSG at the top, for a day at least.
Players to watch: Troyes will hope Rony Lopes can find the net given they avoided defeat in the three league games he scored in this campaign (W1, D2), drawing both at home (D2). Aiming to eclipse him, Kevin Danso has scored only three goals for Lens in Ligue 1, but two came in the last two H2Hs.
Hot stat: Both teams have scored in 62% of Ligue 1 matches so far this season, the highest rate across the top-five European leagues.