Lens vs Lorient Prediction & Betting Tips - Ligue 1

Prediction published on 03/05/2024, 06:04  by Nella Wagah in Ligue 1 Predictions

Lens will be looking to reignite their chase for European football when they host relegation-threatened Lorient on Friday. Heading into this game, Lens occupy the final place for European football while Lorient are three points below safety. In terms of their season’s ambitions, a loss for either side here could have serious repercussions. Hosts Lens are only two points ahead of Marseille and Lyon, who are also eyeing European football next season. They are coming from a 2-1 loss at Marseille, complicating their already dire situation. Wesley Said imagined he had snatched a point for Lens with his 77th minute leveler but Marseille scored an 85th minute winner. This defeat left them on just a win in their last six matches, four of which ended in defeat. Lens are also on an inferior goal difference compared to Marseille. They can’t afford another defeat here, considering that Marseille’s next league game will be at home, where they’ve done well this season. In recent Ligue 1 matches at home, things haven't been great for Lens. They won three of seven home league matches coming here. However, with just four losses at home in the league this season, they should have enough to beat a struggling team.

Lorient are operating on borrowed time; six losses in their last seven matches have them skating on really thin ice. They failed to build on an early lead last time out and went on to lose 2-1 at home to Toulouse. That defeat left them with only one point gained from a possible 21 in their last seven matches. The visitors now have three matches to salvage their season and their fate isn’t even in their hands. A loss here, coupled with a Le Havre win this weekend will mean Lorient are officially relegated. How bad their season has been can only be explained by the fact they have conceded 61 goals in the league, the highest tally so far. Lorient have managed just six wins in their 31 matches this season. A bit of a silver lining for them is that they are on three wins in their last six away matches. However, in their last two away matches, they suffered defeats, failed to score a goal and conceded a combined five goals. In 22 away matches, Lorient have no clean sheet but four times in the last six, they scored at least twice.