Lens – PSV : Preview & Prediction
Lens coach Franck Haise hopes the much-needed training time will do his players a world of good as they return to UEFA Champions League action. The Blood and Gold drew 0-0 at home to Le Havre on Friday night, and the coach admitted that preparation for that clash was a problem due to some members of his squad returning to the squad after playing for their national team just 24 hours before the game.
That draw represented the sixth consecutive game without defeat in all competitions for the reigning Ligue 1 runners-up (G3, E3), who are hoping to finally put their poor start to the season behind them. They are now looking to build on the momentum generated by the four points recorded in their first two UEFA Champions League group stage matches, including a memorable comeback to beat Arsenal 2-1 earlier this month.
Hoping to put an end to their good form are visitors PSV Eindhoven, who have lost just one of their last six games against French opposition (G2, E3). That bodes well for a team that maintained its place at the top of the Eredivisie on Saturday by beating Fortuna Sittard 3-1, extending its impressive record of just one defeat in 33 league and cup games since mid-February (G27, E5).
However, that lone defeat came in this competition, a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal, which, along with a 2-2 draw against Sevilla, means the Eindhoven side have just one point from two group games. The “rojiblancos”, who have not reached the last 16 of UEFA’s premier club competition since the 2015/16 campaign, are already in trouble to qualify for the last 16 in this edition, and a record of just four away wins in the UEFA Champions League, all in the preliminary stages, from August 2013 onwards (E6, P11) does not inspire much confidence.
Players to watch: Lens will be hoping Adrien Thomasson can find the net, having not lost a match in which he has scored since February 2020 (G13, E6). Meanwhile, PSV’s Luuk de Jong will be looking to star for his side, having scored ten goals in the UEFA Champions League, eight of which came to open or close the game’s scoring.
Key stat: All six of PSV’s matches in the current UEFA Champions League season have featured four goals or more.
Lens – PSV : Betting Tips
PSV – Win Odds: 2.25
