Lens vs Nantes Prediction & Betting Tips - Ligue 1

Prediction published on 17/02/2023, 13:15  by Kennedy Kechula in Ligue 1 Predictions

RC Lens will have their Champions League hopes for next season put to the test again on Sunday when they host Nantes at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in round 24 of the French Ligue 1. Lens are currently in fourth place, just three points adrift of an automatic Champions League qualifying slot while Nantes are 13th with 28 points. Lens have hit a snug in recent weeks and are now four matches without a win in the league. In fact, they have only won twice in seven league matches played in 2023. They lost 2-1 away to Lyon last time out. Franck Haise’s team have the league’s best defence with 18 goals conceded but they haven’t been able to keep their opponents at bay recently and have conceded at least once in six of their last seven matches in the division. They also don’t have the most lethal strike force as their tally of 35 goals is the lowest of the teams in the top 6 but the positive is that they have been able to score in matches and have failed to find the back of the net only once in their last seven outings. Lens have a long list of injuries with six players expected to miss this round with Adam Buksa, Steven Fortes and Wesley Said among them. To get out of this slump, they will hope goalkeeper Brice Samba adds to his eight clean sheets and Florian Sotoca and Lois Openda rediscover their scoring touch.

Nantes switch their attention back to domestic duty after being involved in the Europa League in midweek. Nantes managed an impressive 1-1 draw away to Juventus in their last 16 playoff tie. Ludovic Blas scored the equaliser against the Italian side and has now netted three goals in the last four matches across all competitions, making him key towards Nantes’ success. Antoine Kombouare’s side are a long way off from returning to Europe next season via league placing and will have to do so via Cup tournaments. Nantes are on a four-game unbeaten run across all competitions coming into this game and have made it through to the quarterfinals of the Coupe de France. They have scored at least one goal in all four matches and have kept two clean sheets. In the league, they have won their last two matches without conceding a goal. They beat Ajaccio 2-0 away from home before following that up with a 1-0 win over Lorient. It is the first time all season that they have won back-to-back matches in the league. Nantes will be without Quentin Merlin, Ignatius Ganago and Andy Delort for the trip to Lens.