Lens vs. Saint-Etienne Prediction, Match Preview and Betting Tips, 6 April 2025 - bettingexpert

The upcoming Ligue 1 clash between Lens and Saint-Etienne on 6 April 2025, at 14:00, promises to be an intriguing battle. Held at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens, currently 9th in the league with 39 points, will look to solidify their mid-table status against 17th-placed Saint-Etienne, who are fighting to avoid relegation with just 23 points.

Lens heads into this fixture following a narrow defeat to Lille in the "Derby du Nord," but have shown resilience with recent wins against Rennes and Marseille. Meanwhile, Saint-Etienne has had a tumultuous season, their latest game seeing a heavy 6-1 defeat to PSG.

A key match fact is that Lens is the bookmaker’s favorite with odds of 1.54, a nod to their stronger form and historical advantage at home. Additionally, Saint-Etienne has not won an away game this season, making Lens -1.0 (AH) a recommended bet.

Keep an eye on players like Lens’ top scorer M’Bala Nzola and Saint-Etienne’s Lucas Stassin, who will be pivotal in this encounter.

Referee Romain Lissorgue, known for his average of 3.8 yellow cards per game, will oversee the match. This promises to be a vital fixture for both teams, each fighting for different season objectives.

Lens vs Saint-Etienne Prediction & Betting Tip

Based on the provided match tips and match facts, Lens -1.0 (AH) is the recommended betting tip for this encounter. Lens has the home advantage and currently stands 9th in the league with 39 points, while Saint-Etienne struggles in 17th place with 23 points.

Lens vs Saint-Etienne Prediction
Betting tip	Odds
Lens -1.0 (AH)	1.54

• Lens has a solid home record and recently defeated Rennes, which indicates good form.
• Saint-Etienne has not won any away games this season and is struggling to find consistency.
• Historically, Lens has a strong track record against Saint-Etienne at home, further solidifying their chances.

Given these points, Lens -1.0 (AH) looks like a smart and safe bet for this fixture.

Lens vs Saint-Etienne Odds

When it comes to betting, the odds clearly favor Lens in this Ligue 1 clash against Saint-Etienne. As the bookmakers’ favorite, Lens has been assigned shorter odds due to their superior form and standing in the league.

Lens vs Saint-Etienne Betting Odds
Bet	Odds
Lens	1.54
Draw	4.35
Saint-Etienne	5.44

Given Lens’ recent performances and their solid home record, these odds reflect a strong belief in their capability to secure a win.
Lens’ confidence is bolstered by their recent victory against Rennes and their robust history against Saint-Etienne. On the other hand, Saint-Etienne’s poor away form and struggles in the lower reaches of the table justify their longer odds.

Lens Team Analysis

Lens Recent Performance

Lens have experienced a roller-coaster ride in their last five matches, showcasing mixed results:

Home team	Away team	Date	Competition	Result
Lille	Lens	2025-03-30	Ligue 1	1-0 (Loss)
Lens	Rennes	2025-03-15	Ligue 1	1-0 (Win)
Marseille	Lens	2025-03-08	Ligue 1	0-1 (Win)
Lens	Le Havre	2025-03-01	Ligue 1	3-4 (Loss)
Nantes	Lens	2025-02-23	Ligue 1	3-1 (Loss)

Recent Form: LWWLL

Lens have scored an average of 1.20 goals per game in their last 5 matches. They’ve kept clean sheets in two of these games, demonstrating moments of defensive resilience. However, they have also succumbed to some tight losses, emphasizing the volatility of their recent form. Despite these ups and downs, they remain a formidable side, especially at home.

Lens Key Players

Lens, currently positioned 9th in Ligue 1, will look to key players to make a vital impact against Saint-Etienne. Their top scorer, M’Bala Nzola, who has netted 6 goals this season, will be a primary threat up front. Additionally, Florian Sotoca, known for his creativity and goal-scoring prowess, will be crucial for Lens in the attacking third.

Key individual battles could see Nzola facing off against the experienced Mickael Nade in Saint-Etienne’s defense, a matchup that could tilt the balance of the game.

Expected lineup for Lens:

• Goalkeeper: Mathew Ryan
• Defenders: Jonathan Gradit, Malang Sarr, Facundo Medina
• Midfielders: Ruben Aguilar, Nampalys Mendy, Neil El Aynaoui, Deiver Machado
• Attackers: Wesley Saïd, Florian Sotoca, M’Bala Nzola

Lens Suspensions & Injuries

Lens come into this match with several players unavailable due to injuries. Here’s a look at who will be missing and when they might return:

Player	Injury	Expected return
Martin Satriano	Cruciate ligament	Early June 2025
Rémy Labeau Lascary	Cruciate ligament	Out for season
Jhoanner Chávez	Ankle injury	Mid April 2025
Denis Petric	Back injury	Mid April 2025

These absences could present a challenge for Lens, particularly in maintaining their defensive solidity and creativity in midfield. Managing their lineup effectively will be critical for Coach Will Still as they aim to secure an important victory at Stade Bollaert-Delelis.

Lens Tactics and Formation

Lens Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 3-4-3
• Key Forward: M’Bala Nzola
• Midfield Quartet: Ruben Aguilar, Nampalys Mendy, Neil El Aynaoui, Deiver Machado
• Defensive Line: Jonathan Gradit, Malang Sarr, Facundo Medina

Lens, coached by Will Still, will likely adopt a 3-4-3 formation. Nzola, with 6 goals this season, is their key forward and main scoring threat. In midfield, Aguilar and Machado will operate as wide midfielders, with Mendy and El Aynaoui providing stability in the central areas. The back three, consisting of Gradit, Sarr, and Medina, will aim to keep things tight defensively.

Notable Strategy: Lens tends to perform well at home, using their midfield width to create chances from the flanks. With two clean sheets in their last five games, Lens’ defensive structure has been reliable lately.

Saint-Etienne Team Analysis

Saint-Etienne Recent Performance

Home team	Away team	Date	Competition	Result
Saint-Etienne	Paris Saint-Germain	2025-03-29	Ligue 1	1-6 (Loss)
Montpellier	Saint-Etienne	2025-03-16	Ligue 1	0-2 (Win)
Le Havre	Saint-Etienne	2025-03-09	Ligue 1	1-1 (Draw)
Saint-Etienne	Nice	2025-03-01	Ligue 1	1-3 (Loss)
Saint-Etienne	Angers	2025-02-22	Ligue 1	3-3 (Draw)

Saint-Etienne’s recent form has been erratic, as shown by their LWDLD pattern in the last five matches. Despite a heavy 1-6 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, they did manage to secure a 2-0 win against Montpellier. Their attacking prowess is evident, having scored an average of 1.60 goals per game in their last five outings; however, their defense remains a concern with only one clean sheet during this period. Saint-Etienne is sitting near the bottom of the table, but they’ve shown resilience by scoring in each of their last six matches in Ligue 1.

Saint-Etienne Key Players

Expected lineup for Saint-Etienne:

• Goalkeeper: Gautier Larsonneur
• Defenders: Yvann Macon, Mickael Nade, Dylan Batubinsika, Leo Petrot
• Midfielders: Pierre Ekwah, Benjamin Bouchouari, Florian Tardieu
• Forwards: Irvin Cardona, Lucas Stassin, Zuriko Davitashvili

Lucas Stassin is the standout player for Saint-Etienne, leading the team’s attacking efforts with 9 goals this season. His battle against Lens’s defenders, like Facundo Medina and Malang Sarr, will be pivotal.

In midfield, Benjamin Bouchouari’s energy and Florian Tardieu’s creativity will be essential in disrupting Lens’s play while Irvin Cardona and Zuriko Davitashvili look to provide width and attacking options on the wings.

These players’ performances could be the key to Saint-Etienne’s quest to climb out of the relegation zone.

Saint-Etienne Suspensions & Injuries

Player	Injury	Expected return
Augustine Boakye	Ankle injury	Out for season

Saint-Etienne will be missing Augustine Boakye due to an ankle injury, which is an unfortunate blow as he is ruled out for the season. This impacts their depth in midfield, potentially affecting their ability to control the game’s pace. Coach Eirik Horneland will need to rely on alternatives and might have to make tactical adjustments to cover for Boakye’s absence.

The team’s slim margin for error in their quest to dodge relegation means every player’s contribution is vital. This injury adds to a challenging phase for Saint-Etienne as they visit Lens at Stade Bollaert-Delelis.

Saint-Etienne Tactics and Formation

Saint-Etienne’s Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 4-3-3
• Key Forward: Lucas Stassin
• Midfield Trio: Pierre Ekwah, Benjamin Bouchouari, Florian Tardieu
• Defensive Strength: Managed a clean sheet against Montpellier

Saint-Etienne’s coach, Eirik Horneland, opts for a 4-3-3 setup, looking to enhance both defensive solidity and offensive fluidity. Key forward Lucas Stassin, with 9 goals this season, spearheads the attack, flanked by Irvin Cardona and Zuriko Davitashvili on the wings. The midfield trio of Pierre Ekwah, Benjamin Bouchouari, and Florian Tardieu is crucial, aiming to maintain possession and distribute effectively. At the back, Ekwah and Bouchouari aim to shield the defense, which has managed just one clean sheet in their last five games. Expect them to focus on counter-attacks and capitalise on any defensive lapses from Lens.

Lens vs Saint-Etienne Head-to-Head Statistics

Home team	Away team	Date	Competition	Result
Saint-Etienne	Lens	2024-10-19	Ligue 1	0-2 (Loss)
Saint-Etienne	Lens	2022-01-15	Ligue 1	1-2 (Loss)
Lens	Saint-Etienne	2021-08-15	Ligue 1	2-2 (Draw)
Saint-Etienne	Lens	2021-03-03	Ligue 1	2-3 (Loss)
Lens	Saint-Etienne	2020-10-03	Ligue 1	2-0 (Win)

Saint-Etienne have struggled in their recent encounters against Lens, failing to secure a win in the last five meetings.

Lens have won three out of these five matches, with one ending in a draw, highlighting their upper hand in this fixture.

The most recent match at Stade Bollaert-Delelis ended in a draw (2-2), suggesting that Saint-Etienne might put up a challenging fight despite their current form.

Odds accurate as of 04.04.2025 14:02, and are subject to change. Please always check the odds before placing your bets with any bookmaker.