Montpellier Hsc vs Lens Prediction & Betting Tips - Ligue 1

Prediction published on 23/02/2023, 10:14  by Kennedy Kechula in Ligue 1 Predictions

In their quest to create further distance between them and the relegation zone, Montpellier will host Lens in their next French Ligue 1 match on Saturday at the Stade de la Mosson. Montpellier are 14th in the standings with 26 points while Lens are fourth with 49. La Paillade have struggled with consistency this season and find themselves sitting three places and seven points above the relegation zone. They have won eight matches and lost 14 of their 24 matches played but come to this match on the back of two successive wins. They have not won three in a row in the league and are on back-to-back wins for only the second time this season. Michel Der Zakarian’s men have not conceded a goal in their last two matches and beat Troyes 1-0 away last time out to follow up on their 3-0 win over Brest. Wahbi Khazri scored a 90th-minute winner against Troyes and was the third different scorer for them in their last four matches. That win came at a cost though as it saw captain Teji Savanier receive a straight red card and will therefore not be available for selection against Lens. The midfielder has scored eight goals in the league this season and will be sorely missed.

Lens are eight points adrift of leaders PSG but their immediate concern now is to secure a place in the Champions League for next season. They trail third-placed Monaco by one point and are a further three behind second-place Marseille. Lens have won the fourth most matches (14) this season in the league and have lost the joint least (three). They have however been inconsistent in recent outings and have won just one of their last five matches in the league. Franck Haise’s men beat Nantes 3-1 last time out to end a four-match run without a win. Deiver Machado opened the scoring against Nantes with his second goal in two games and will want to keep this scoring touch going against Montpellier. Club top scorer Lois Openda hasn’t found the back of the net for more than a month now and will fancy his chances against the league’s fourth-worst defence. Lens will be without six players for this match due to injury with one of them being forward Wesley Said who scored the lone goal as Lens beat Montpellier in the first meeting of the season.