This Saturday marks the a hundredth Ligue 1 conflict between Lens and Strasbourg at Stade Bollaert-Delelis, making it the forty first recreation within the competitors to hit this milestone.
Final week, Lens climbed to sixth with a 1-0 win over Nantes, whereas Strasbourg fell 2-1 to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
Match preview
Lens’s latest robust protection has them near securing a spot in European competitions subsequent season.
They’re simply two factors behind Monaco for a Europa League spot, successful two consecutive away league video games for the primary time since final yr.
Nonetheless, 2024 hasn’t been type to them at dwelling, dropping to Monaco within the Coupe de France and to PSG within the league.
Lens has failed to attain in solely two dwelling video games however hasn’t misplaced back-to-back dwelling league video games since January 2021.
Since October, they’ve stored 9 clear sheets, probably the most in Europe’s top-five leagues throughout this era.
A win towards Strasbourg, whom they beat 1-0 in September, would mark their fourth season sweep towards them, a primary for the reason that 2003-04 season.
Strasbourg’s eight-game unbeaten streak ended with a loss to PSG final weekend, their first league defeat since early December.
On the highway, they’ve been unbeaten in six, conceding one aim or fewer every time.
Nonetheless, they’ve struggled towards higher-ranked groups away from dwelling, with their solely win towards such a group being towards Lille in December.
Since November, Strasbourg has scored and conceded in each recreation, matching PSG’s scoring consistency.
They’ve managed constructive leads to three of their final 4 visits to Lens.
Lens Ligue 1 type: D W L L W W
Lens type (all competitions): W L L L W W
Strasbourg Ligue 1 type: W W W D D L
Strasbourg type (all competitions): W D W D L W
Group Information
With Guinea and Uzbekistan out of their respective tournaments, Morgan Guilavogui and Abdukodir Khusanov are again for Lens, however Jimmy Cabot is out with an ACL damage.
Haise made a single lineup change lately, bringing Przemyslaw Frankowski in for Wesley Mentioned.
David Costa scored his second season aim final time, and Brice Samba secured his tenth clear sheet, rating third within the league.
Strasbourg misses Lebo Mothiba and Jeremy Sebas as a consequence of knee points, Ismael Doukoure with an ankle drawback, and Kevin Gameiro with a pressure.
Following Matz Sels’ transfer, Alaa Bellaarouch stepped in as goalkeeper, one among Vieira’s latest lineup modifications.
Dilane Bakwa scored of their final league recreation, contributing to a 3-1 win within the Coupe de France.
Lens attainable beginning lineup:
Samba;
Gradit, Danso, Medina;
Aguilar, Diouf, Thomasson, El Aynaoui;
Costa;
Wahi, Sotoca
Strasbourg attainable beginning lineup:
Bellaarouch;
Senaya, Perrin, Sylla, Guilbert;
Bakwa, Deminguet, Sissoko, Angelo;
Diarra, Sahi
Prediction: Lens 1-0 Strasbourg
Lens’s relaxation this week offers them an edge over Strasbourg, who performed midweek. With Lens’s tight protection and Strasbourg’s tendency to concede, we predict a detailed win for Lens.