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

Lens face Strasbourg on Sunday afternoon eager to keep pace with fifth-placed Marseille in the race for the final Europa League spot.

Meanwhile, Strasbourg begin the weekend sitting six points clear of the Ligue 1 relegation zone after an improved run of form in recent weeks.

Match preview

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At the start of the season, everyone associated with Lens would have been delighted with putting together an eight-match unbeaten streak in France's top flight.

However, with five of those games ending in draws, it has left Franck Haise to resolve their defensive issues in a bid to remain on Marseille's coattails.

Despite scoring at least two goals in each of their last four outings, Lens have conceded eight goals in five matches, a return which cannot continue if they want to finish in the top five.

Paris Saint-Germain loanee Arnaud Kalimuendo has contributed a goal or assist in his last three appearances, but former Chelsea youngster Gael Kakuta has gone five games without adding to his total of 13 in the same category.

While Lens are the favourites to prevail from this contest, they suffered a 1-0 defeat in the reverse fixture on the second weekend of 2021.

Strasbourg initially struggled in the weeks after that success, collecting just two wins from nine fixtures to keep them in close proximity to the bottom three.

Nevertheless, the narrow win over Monaco earlier this month has provided Thierry Laurey's team with some breathing space as they bid to avoid a relegation scrap.

Even after losing at Rennes last weekend, the Racers have conceded just three goals in five games, a significant improvement on their return in February.

Top goalscorer Ludovic Ajorque has netted just one strike in his last seven appearances for the home team.

Team News

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Laurey is expected to hand a start to Majeed Waris after Habib Diallo's early withdrawal in the last match.

Barring any more fitness issues, the rest of the Strasbourg XI could stay the same.

Haise is likely to take a similar approach to his Lens team, although changes in defensive areas cannot be ruled out.

Providing that the visitors stick with a back three, Steven Fortes may be recalled at the expense of Facundo Medina.

Strasbourg possible starting lineup:

Kawashima; Guilbert, Kone, Mitrovic, Caci; Sissoko, Aholou, Bellegarde; Thomasson; Waris, Ajorque

Lens possible starting lineup:

Leca; Gradit, Bade, Fortes; Doucoure; Clauss, Cahuzac, Fofana, Haidara; Sotoca, Kalimuendo

We say: Strasbourg 1-2 Lens

Despite their narrow setback last weekend, Strasbourg will be confident of earning at least a share of the spoils. Nevertheless, we cannot back against the visitors, who will not need encouragement to push for all three points as they continue their quest for an unlikely European place.