Angers have a chance to end a five-match losing run in Ligue 1 when they welcome Lens to Stade Raymond Kopa on Saturday.
Les Scoistes are bottom of the table following a 2-0 loss at Monaco at the end of October, while Les Sang et Or are second in the league, defeating Toulouse 3-0 last Friday.
Match preview
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Another shaky second-half performance proved to be their undoing a week ago, as Angers conceded twice to Monaco in the final 45 minutes, suffering a ninth defeat this season.
That has been a recurring theme for Gerald Baticle's men throughout this campaign, with his side conceding 15 goals in the second half of their top-flight affairs.
Their eight points accumulated so far are the fewest for them at this stage of a top-flight season since 1974-75, when they finished 18th and were relegated.
It has been a miserable campaign for them to say the least, particularly at home, where they have lost five of their six games played this season, having dropped 10 of their 17 fixtures that have taken place at Stade Raymond Kopa in 2022.
They have only suffered one defeat in four matches against Lens in the top flight, though that one loss occurred on their home field in February of last season (2-1).
They have conceded a league-high 31 goals so far in this domestic campaign, while also allowing multiple strikes in four home fixtures.
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One of the fastest-growing sides in the French top-flight have started to hit their stride in 2022-23 as Lens have won three consecutive league fixtures, outscoring their three opponents by a 5-0 margin.
They have already picked up 30 points domestically after 13 encounters, their highest total at this stage of a top-flight season, while a victory on Friday would mark their first four-game winning streak in league play since July-August 2001 (four).
Since the beginning of September, Franck Haise's men have conceded a mere two goals, with Paris-Saint Germain being the only other side in the top five European leagues who have allowed fewer over that stretch (one).
Lens have produced seven clean sheets since the start of September, while they are the only team in the top five European leagues this season who have not conceded in the opening 40 minutes of any domestic encounter.
2022 has been a year full of positive results for Les Sang et Or, who have collected a total of 65 points in Ligue 1 this year, second only to PSG (75).
If there is an area Haise would like to see improvements on right now, it might be their form in front of goal away from home, as his side have been shut out of three road contests this season, scoring a goal or fewer on five occasions.
Team News
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Yahia Fofana replaced Paul Bernardoni in their defeat at Monaco, as the Angers keeper has allowed eight goals in his last four matches played between the sticks.
Two of the three goals scored by Amine Salama this season have come away from home, including in their road fixture last month when he and captain Nabil Bentaleb found the back of the net in a 3-2 defeat at Toulouse.
Ulrick Eneme Ella and Ali Kalla are out until the middle of the month with knee problems, Lois Diony will not be back until May because of a torn ACL, while Souleyman Doumbia and Sofiane Boufal should be recovered from their ankle injuries by mid-November.
Brice Samba did not have to make a single stop for Lens last Friday in their victory over Toulouse, collecting his seventh clean sheet of the campaign, one fewer than PSG's Gianluigi Donnarumma.
In their previous match, Lois Openda became the fourth person to score a hat trick in Ligue 1 this season and the second Sang et Or player to do so in 2022-23 after Florian Sotoca fired home three goals in a 3-2 victory over Brest.
Jimmy Cabot continues to recover from a problem in his knee, and Adam Buksa has an ankle injury, but they are both expected to return by mid-November.
Angers possible starting lineup:
Y. Fofana; Capelle, Mendy, Amadou, Houtondji, Valery; Ounahi, Bentaleb, Taibi; Sima, Salama
Lens possible starting lineup:
Samba; Gradit, Danso, Haidara; Frankowski, Onana, Abdul Samed, Machado; S. Fofana, Sotoca; Openda
We say: Angers 0-3 Lens
Angers' defending at home speaks for itself, as they look far too timid and passive, something that we expect an in-form side like Lens will take advantage of on Friday.
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Top tip
Joel Lefevre
