Lille will be hoping to move top of the Ligue 1 table this weekend, as they look to make the most of the home advantage against Lens.
Lille are yet to lose this season, picking up four wins and two draws from their opening six league games. Last time out, Lille cruised to a 3-0 victory away at Strasbourg and have looked more impressive away from home.
Sunday’s hosts will be disappointed to have dropped points in two of their three home games this season. Lille could only manage 1-1 draw with Rennes and Marseille at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, and now face another tricky home game against Lens.
Lille have had the better of their most recent encounters with Lens, but the pair haven’t met since May 2015. Lens last beat Lille in a Coupe de la Ligue tie back in 2007 and have gone eight games without a win against Sunday’s hosts. However, Lens have made an excellent start to life back in the top-flight of French football and should prove tough to beat this weekend.
Lens lost on the opening day of the season against Nice, but since then have secured four wins and two draws from their next five matches. Those results leave Lens sitting 3rd in the table heading into this weekend’s round of fixtures.
Last time out, Lens secured a 2-0 win at home to Saint-Etienne and have avoided defeat in their last two away trips. Lens only suffered three away defeats in Ligue 2 last season, going on to claim 2nd-place in the table and earning promotion.
Both teams scored in 57% of Lens’ away games last season, and Forebet could see both sides finding the back of the net on Sunday. Both teams have scored in four of the last six meetings between these two clubs, and in three of Lens’ last four outings in Ligue 1. It’s difficult to see Lens winning on Sunday as Lille only lost two of their 15 home games during the 2019/20 campaign.
Lille’s home games last season produced an average of 2.20 total goals, and under 2.5 goals were scored in 47% of Lens’ away trips in 2019/20.
With that in mind, Forebet is expecting both teams to score on Sunday and believes the most likely end result to be a 1-1 draw. A virus could see Fonte, Soumaoro, and Niasse all miss out for the hosts. Lens are without the suspended Medina, while Ganago, Sylla, Diallo, Michelin, Fofana, Boli, and Traore are all injury concerns.