Lens – Nantes : Preview & Prediction
After racking up three straight wins in all competitions, Lens appears to be slipping in performance with a run of three draws in a row, including a 1-1 draw against PSV in the UEFA Champions League this week. That result came after a goalless draw in Ligue 1 against newly promoted Le Havre last weekend, leaving Lens with a slim one-point cushion over the bottom three in the table before this matchday.
Lens should be desperate for points, as their current total of nine after nine rounds of Ligue 1 is just shy of what they had at this stage of the campaign, the last three times the club was relegated to Ligue 2. On a more positive note, only two official home defeats this calendar year (G11, E4) suggest that Lens should extend their unbeaten run of eight home games against Nantes in Ligue 1 (G5, E3) dating back to 2003.
Unlike their hosts, Nantes are going through a great spell with four wins in their last five league games (P1), which includes a 2-0 win at Montpellier on Sunday. It was a result that coach Pierre Aristouy felt “relieved the pressure” on the team, and although the “Canaries” were outside the top six in the table on goal difference before this matchday, it still represents their best start to a nine-game campaign in a Ligue 1 season since 2019/20.
Nantes finished 13th on that occasion, so there is still plenty of work to be done, and that includes picking up back-to-back away wins in the French top flight for the first time since December 2021. Before the international double-header break, they won 2-1 at Strasbourg and, fortunately for Aristouy, will be able to count on top scorer Mostafa Mohamed (five goals) after serving his two-match suspension.
Players to watch: Lens can get off to a good start through Florian Sotoca, having opened the scoring for his side in his last six scoring appearances in Ligue 1, while Moses Simon will be closely watched by his opponents after contributing to Nantes’ last four league goals against Lens (three goals, one assist).
Key stat: Nantes starts this matchday as one of only three Ligue 1 teams that have not been behind at halftime this season (G3, E6).
Lens – Nantes : Betting Tips
Lens – Win Odds: 1.55
