Lens vs Lorient Prediction: Team News and Lineups Preview

Welcome to our Lens vs Lorient prediction, team news, lineups and fixtures preview. Two teams in poor form meet in northern France desperate for a victory in their respective different fights.

Between them, Lens and Lorient have just one win since 9th March and are finishing the season poorly. Someone desperately needs to take all three points in this Saturday evening showdown. Ligue 1 expert Steve Wyss has a trio of bets to get stuck into for this encounter.

1. Lens vs Lorient Tip 1: Lens -1.25 Asian Handicap
2. Lens vs Lorient Tip 2: Over 2.75 Goals
3. Lens vs Lorient Tip 3: Lens to Score Over 2.5 Goals

Lens vs Lorient Prediction 1: Lens to sink relegation threatened Lorient

France, Ligue 1, Saturday 4th May 20:00 (UK)

Both sides have been in poor form, but Lens should show their superior quality by winning this game at home. They could qualify for Europe again but know the only way to guarantee that is to win all of their remaining games. This is one of the easier ones on paper, so they can’t afford to slip it up. It is difficult to work out what has gone wrong for Lens recently, but the main problem they’ve had all season has been converting chances into goals. Lens has the third-highest xG in Ligue 1 (53.98) but underachieved that mark by nearly 14 goals!

The good news is they are now facing a Lorient team that has been giving up a lot of big chances and feels in a desperate state. Les Merlus have lost their last five consecutive fixtures and conceded 12 goals in the process. They are three points adrift of safety, but it feels like the game is up for them, and relegation is very likely. They’ve taken too many risks and, if they fall behind, will probably leave themselves exposed. Lens must be expected to at least win the game, so taking the hosts on a -1.25 Asian handicap has some appeal.

• Lens vs Lorient Prediction 1: Lorient -1.25 Asian Handicap (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 2.00
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 6/10

Lens vs Lorient Prediction 2: Desperate state of affairs should lead to an open game

Both sides will feel like they need to win this match, which will likely lead to quite an open game of football. Lens can’t accept a draw here at home to the second-bottom team in the division. They have a mixed record with overs, with only three other sides having more over 2.5 goal games this season. But as aforementioned, Lens have a huge xG underachievement offensively which has contributed towards this. At the other end of the field, they have been lucky defensively, with an xGA of 45.72 and conceding just 34 goals.

Lorient are starting to drink at the last chance saloon. They are three points adrift of safety and lost five games in a row. Their defence has been like a sieve recently and conceding goals left right and centre. They have shipped in a massive 61 goals this season, which is the most of any team. It’s quite clear they are going to have to rely on their attack to get them some points out of this game. Lorient fixtures average 3.20 goals per game, with 20/31 games ending with over 2.5 goals. Taking the over 2.75 goal line makes sense here because there is a desperate need on both sides.

• Lens vs Lorient Prediction 2: Over 2.75 Goals (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.89
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 7/10

Lens vs Lorient Prediction 3: Lens can finally fulfill their goals potential with a big haul

All season long Lens have frustrated their backers and fans by not converting their numerous chances into goals. They have a staggering xG underachievement of nearly 14 goals, which has been a massive achilles heel for them. Everyone has been waiting for them to revert to the mean and for the goals to flow. This could be the ideal opportunity facing the worst defence in Ligue 1 where they could burn all their frustration in one go.

Backing Lens to score over 2.5 goals on their own at odds of 2.62 could have appeal in this match. This is a goal line that Lens have covered just five times all season, so in terms of the raw stats, then this bet doesn’t make sense. But looking at this match from an individualistic point of view then surely the opportunity might be there for them to rack up the score. If we believe that by the law of averages, they must start to rack up the goals, then this is the best place to start. For a smaller stake then I am happy to trust their attack to finally deliver.

• Lens vs Lorient Prediction 3: Lens to Score Over 2.5 Goals (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 2.62
• Bookmaker: Bet365
• Stake: 4/10

Lorient vs Lens Prediction odds via bet365 as at 15:30, April 4th 2024. Odds may now differ.

Lens vs Lorient Team News and Possible Lineups: Both sides at full strength

Neither side have had any major injury problems recently and should be at full strength. With both teams suffering respective defeats last week there could be changes to the personnel though. From a tactical perspective, each side plays in distinguished 3-4-2-1 systems.

Lens possible starting lineup:Samba, Medina, Danso, Haidara, Machado, El Aynaoui, Mendy, Frankowski, Fulgini, Socota, Wahi

Lorient possible starting lineup:Mvogo, Toure, Talbi, Adjei, Mendy, Louza, Abergel, Katseris, Ponceau, Bouanani, Bamba

Match Stats: Recent history suggests goals

• Six of the last eight meetings have all gone over 2.5 goals
• Lorient have now failed to win any of their last seven Ligue 1 games, losing six of them
• Lens have obtained the second most cards (77) of any team in the division
• Lorient have attempted the second fewest shots per game on average in Ligue 1 (10.20)

Lens Fixtures: European qualification in the balance

• Vs Rennes (A)
• Vs Montpellier (H)

Lorient Fixtures: Time running out to survive

• Vs Marseille (A)
• Vs Clermont (H)

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