Lens – Sevilla : Preview & Prediction
RC Lens face the final day of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) group stage having had one more day of rest than Sevilla FC. In a Group B from which Arsenal and PSV will advance as 1st and 2nd respectively, the clash between the blood and gold and the Blanquirrojos decides which club will play in the preliminary round of the Europa League play-offs.
A draw is enough for Lens to finish 3rd and remain in Europe, while the French side can hope for at least a point after taking 17 out of a possible 21 in their last seven home games in all competitions (G5, E2). After extending their unbeaten run in Ligue 1 to ten games with a 0-0 draw at Montpellier last Friday, coach Franck Haise expressed his ambition “to be in European competition in 2024.”
Facing them will be a Sevilla side that cannot speculate and will only need a win to stay alive in Europe. It’s all or nothing for the reigning Europa League champions (seven titles), who have yet to win in the group phase and can only finish third if they beat Lens, with whom they drew 1-1 at the Sánchez-Pizjuán.
In contrast to the good form of their hosts – Lens have lost only to PSV and Arsenal in the last 12 weeks of competition (G7, E6, P2) – Sevilla’s only wins during that period came in the Copa del Rey against lower-tier teams and in LaLiga against UD Almeria (currently bottom), whom they beat at the end of September. Los Blanquirrojos have not won any of their ten LaLiga/UCL matches (E5, P5) under Uruguayan coach Diego Alonso, but they say Sevilla never give up, and the Nervionense side will be going all out to cut their nine-game winless streak in the top continental competition (E6, P3).
Players to watch: Elye Wahi looks the biggest threat to Sevilla’s goal. The French striker has found the net in the second half in each of Lens’ two home games in the group stage. After two scoring performances for Sevilla, legendary center-back Sergio Ramos was the highest rated player on Flashscore (8.1/10) in last Saturday’s clash against Mallorca.
Key stat: Only one of Lens’ last eight matches in all competitions has featured goals from both teams.
Lens – Sevilla : Betting Tips
Lens – Win Odds: 1.95
