Title-chasing Lens will aim to maintain their 100% home record in Ligue 1 when they entertain Nice at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Wednesday night.
Having won all 10 of their home league games this season, second-placed Lens find themselves just three points behind Paris Saint-Germain, with Nice languishing in 10th place.
Match preview
© Reuters
Lens extended their unbeaten streak to 12 games in all competitions with a 1-1 draw against Troyes on Saturday, courtesy of an 88th-minute equaliser from Adrien Thomasson, although Franck Haise's men dominated proceedings in Aube.
The Blood and Gold have now lost just one of their 20 league outings this season, picking up 13 wins and six draws along the way, with their sole defeat coming against Lille back in early October.
It is no secret that Haise's side have been especially strong on home soil this term, claiming maximum points at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, and they have also conceded a measly seven Ligue 1 goals at home in 2022-23.
When you look at the bigger picture, Lens have only let in 14 goals in the league all season, meaning they boast the best defensive record in the division, having conceded one goal fewer than PSG.
Following a run of seven wins and three draws, no team has picked up more points than Lens across the past 10 games, so the Pas-de-Calais outfit will be confident of enhancing their eye-catching title charge on Wednesday.
© Reuters
Nice parted ways with head coach Lucien Favre following a shock Coupe de France defeat to third-tier opposition in early January, with Didier Digard stepping up to manage the team on an interim basis.
However, the club's hierarchy might consider handing Digard the job on a full-time basis before too long, as the Eagles have taken seven points from a possible nine since the managerial change, meaning they now sit in the top half of the Ligue 1 table.
After thrashing Montpellier 6-1 in Digard's first game in charge – thanks to braces from Nicolas Pepe and Ross Barkley – Nice registered a goalless draw with Reims before sealing a hard-fought 1-0 win against Lille last time out.
Given that just five sides have scored fewer goals than Nice this season, Digard will be eager to improve the team's attacking output, despite the fact that only the top three sides have conceded fewer goals than the Eagles in 2022-23.
There is a sense that Nice are moving in the right direction under Digard's watch, but they could struggle to maintain their momentum against the team with the best home record in the division.
Team News
© Reuters
Lens are still without forward Adam Buksa (ankle) and midfielder Jimmy Cabot (knee) due to injury, while goalkeeper Wuilker Farinez (knee) remains sidelined.
That said, Farinez would struggle to displace Brice Samba between the sticks, as the former Nottingham Forest man has kept nine clean sheets in 20 league appearances this season.
Having bagged seven goals and seven assists across all competitions in 2022-23, Florian Sotoca will keep his place in the Lens attack alongside Lois Openda, who has scored nine Ligue 1 goals this term.
Nice will be without injured goalkeeper Marcin Bulka (shoulder) on Wednesday, meaning Kasper Schmeichel will retain his spot in the starting XI.
Nicolas Pepe (knee) is also expected to miss the trip to the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, as the ex-Arsenal winger was not included in the squad for Sunday's victory over Lille.
Digard may be tempted to stick with the same starting XI that instigated the win against Lille, meaning Ross Barkley will have to settle for a spot on the bench.
Lens possible starting lineup:
Samba; Gradit, Danso, Haidara; Frankowski, Abdul Samed, Fofana, Machado; Sotoca, Openda, Costa
Nice possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Lotomba, Todibo, Dante, Bard; Ramsey, Boudaoui, Thuram; Bouanani, Laborde; Diop
We say: Lens 1-0 Nice
Regardless of Nice's recent upturn in form, Lens look set to make it 11 wins from 11 home league games on Wednesday night, keeping yet another clean sheet in the process.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Morris
