MX23RW : Sunday, December 15 11:45:25| >> :600:172187:172187:
[monks data]
Lens logo
Ligue 1 | Gameweek 32
Apr 22, 2023 at 8pm UK
Stade Felix Bollaert
Monaco

Lens
3 - 0
Monaco

Openda (9', 16'), Thomasson (56')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Maripan (22'), Ben Yedder (68')

Preview: Lens vs. Monaco - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Ligue 1 clash between Lens and Monaco, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

One week on from coming up short in their top-of-the-table showdown with Paris Saint-Germain, Lens face another pivotal podium clash against Monaco at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Saturday night.

Franck Haise's 10 men were put to the sword 3-1 by PSG last week, while Les Monegasques' furthered their Champions League ambitions by beating Lorient by the same scoreline.


Match preview

Lens coach Franck Haise on April 7, 2023© Reuters

Going down to 10 men after just 19 minutes at the Parc des Princes was not in the script for Lens, who lost Salis Abdul Samed to a crunching tackle on Achraf Hakimi early doors, and the floodgates opened in a 10-minute flurry before the break.

Kylian Mbappe's opener off the post, Vitinha's thunderbolt and Lionel Messi's drilled finish put PSG on the path to three precious points, but Lens were not waving the white flag and reduced the deficit in a praiseworthy second-half performance through Przemyslaw Frankowski's spot kick.

With Marseille doing what they needed to do against Troyes, Lens can no longer proudly claim to be the best of the rest - having been knocked down to third place in the table, nine points behind the runaway Parisiens - and defeat on Saturday would force them out of the Champions League places entirely.

Les Sang et Or were basking in the glory of a four-game winning run before being brought crashing back down to earth at the Parc des Princes - which Haise believed "stitched up" another customary title for PSG - but European football is nearly a formality for a side who were competing in the second tier just three years ago.

Now preparing for a welcome return to home comforts, Lens have taken a league-high 40 points from their 15 matches at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis this season - not even PSG have performed as well on familiar territory - and their 13 victories on home soil is more than any other team in Europe's top five leagues.

AS Monaco coach Philippe Clement reacts on January 28, 2023© Reuters

Lens' tally of 11 goals shipped at home is also the best defensive record of its kind in the division, but a Monaco side who pride themselves on attacking supremacy will prove a stern test of their Champions League credentials, as Philippe Clement's side continue to fire in front of goal.

Extinguishing Lorient's hopes of a shock win before an hour had passed last weekend, Les Monegasques had Krepin Diatta's unorthodox effort, Aleksandr Golovin's calm finish and Kevin Volland's powerful drive to thank before the visitors netted a 12-yard consolation through Ibrahima Kone.

Having seen their Europa League hopes crash and burn at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen, Monaco - who currently sit fourth - must push for a podium finish to return to Europe's top tier, and victory over Lens on Saturday would propel Clement's goal-happy crop into the bronze medal position with six games remaining.

For all of their hosts' stellar work at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Monaco have a taste for points on the road - going unbeaten in each of their last nine away from home and scoring at least twice in 11 of their last 12 Ligue 1 contests on rival turf.

Lens left Monaco shell-shocked with a mammoth 4-1 win at the Stade Louis II back in August, but Les Sang et Or have gone winless in their last seven home matches against Les Monegasques - drawing four and losing three since a 3-0 triumph in February 2010.

Lens Ligue 1 form:

Monaco Ligue 1 form:


Team News

 Chelsea's Malang Sarr during the warm up before the match on January 12, 2022© Reuters

Lens lynchpin Abdul Samed must serve a three-game ban for his red card-worthy challenge on Hakimi last weekend, so Haise should call upon Jean Onana to partner captain Seko Fofana in the engine room here.

Steven Fortes and Julien Le Cardinal both remain in the treatment room with knee injuries, while Adam Buksa's ankle problem is still giving him grief, but the Pole would have had little chance of displacing Lois Openda anyway.

Haise made the big call to demote Florian Sotoca to the bench for the clash with PSG, but the veteran Frenchman will likely come straight back in here - potentially in place of Angelo Fulgini.

Regarding Monaco, Clement had to make do without all of Ruben Aguilar (groin), Breel Embolo (knee) and Malang Sarr (groin) for the victory over Lorient, but Clement has revealed that Embolo's recovery is progressing quicker than expected as he fights to return before the end of the month.

Gelson Martins was once again absent from the squad last weekend due to personal reasons, and it is unclear if the Portuguese will be back in contention here, but Diatta and Golovin have surely done enough to hold their spots out wide.

Incredibly, Monaco captain Wissam Ben Yedder has never ended up on the winning side against Lens - drawing two and losing five of his seven meetings with Les Sang et Or - and he will endeavour to snap a three-game scoreless streak on Saturday night.

Lens possible starting lineup:
Samba; Medina, Danso, Gradit; Frankowski, Fofana, Onana, Haidara; Sotoca, Thomasson; Openda

Monaco possible starting lineup:
Nubel; Vanderson, Maripan, Disasi, Henrique; Diatta, Fofana, Camara, Golovin; Ben Yedder, Volland


SM words green background

We say: Lens 2-2 Monaco

There is no doubt in our minds that Saturday's contest should live up to the billing, with Lens proving to be a near-unbreakable force at home while Monaco find the back of the net for fun on the road.

Clement's defence is not the most watertight, though, and one year on from the sides playing out a 2-2 draw at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, we can envisage an identical four-goal stalemate between two attack-minded outfits, as Haise's side retain their grip on third place for the time being.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 2.5:data


ID:511820:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect13281:
Written by
Ben Knapton

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Lens vs Monaco

Lens
53.1%
Draw
20.4%
Monaco
26.5%
49
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Paris Saint-Germain's (PSG) Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their first goal with Kylian Mbappe and Sergio Ramos on March 4, 2023
Read Next:
Saturday's Ligue 1 predictions including PSG vs. Lens
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Chiefs
@
Browns
6pm
Ravens
@
Giants
6pm
Jets
@
Jags
6pm
Cowboys
@
Panthers
6pm
Washington
@
Saints
6pm
Dolphins
@
Texans
6pm
Bengals
@
Titans
9.25pm
Colts
@
Broncos
9.25pm
Patriots
@
Cardinals
9.25pm
Buccaneers
@
Chargers
9.25pm
Steelers
@
Eagles
9.25pm
Bills
@
Lions
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Paris Saint-GermainPSG14104037112634
2Marseille1593332181430
3MonacoMonaco1593324121230
4Lille1576225151027
5Lyon147432617925
6Lens156631914524
7Nice146532617923
8Auxerre156362323021
9Toulouse156361717021
10Reims155552018220
11Brest145182026-616
12Rennes144281820-214
13NantesNantes143561620-414
14StrasbourgStrasbourg143562227-514
15Angers143471424-1013
16Saint-EtienneSt Etienne1541101234-2213
17Le HavreLe Havre1440101126-1512
18Montpellier HSCMontpellier1422101336-238


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!