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Lens logo
Ligue 1 | Gameweek 4
Aug 29, 2021 at 2pm UK
Stade Felix Bollaert
Lorient logo

Lens
2 - 2
Lorient

Clauss (24'), Fofana (70')
Danso (18'), Medina (75')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Lauriente (27'), Monconduit (35')
Abergel (6'), Fontaine (12'), Silva (23'), Nardi (59')

Preview: Lens vs. Lorient - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Ligue 1 clash between Lens and Lorient, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Lens will be keen to secure back-to-back Ligue 1 wins when they play host to Lorient at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Sunday.

Last time out, Lens put in a good performance to see off AS Monaco as they recorded their first league win of the season at the third time of asking.


Match preview

Lens head coach Franck Haise pictured in October 2020© Reuters

It has been a solid start to the campaign for Lens, who are unbeaten in their opening three matches, notching up five points to occupy fourth place in the standings, only four points behind the summit.

For a side who were plying their trade in Ligue 2 just two years ago, Sang et Or are clearly overperforming and exceeding expectations in the French top flight as they look to establish themselves at this level.

Under the tutelage of Franck Haise, Lens finished in seventh place on their return to Ligue 1 last term, and will be looking to finish higher up this time around, perhaps even challenging for continental qualification as they are well on course to achieving this feat.

Last time out, Haise's men picked up their first three points of the season away at Monaco after putting two unanswered goals past the hosts, despite the fact that they played with a numerical handicap for over 20 minutes, with Cheick Doucoure receiving a red card on the hour mark.

Ahead of this clash, Lens boast an impressive home record having lost only one of their preceding 10 matches at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, winning three and sharing the spoils in the other six.

Lorient manager Christophe Pelissier pictured in December 2020© Reuters

Unlike the hosts who flourished on their return to the French top flight, Lorient endured a torrid spell last season, finishing up in 16th place, just two points clear of the relegation places.

This time around, they will be hoping to avoid such struggles, and are already off to a decent start to the campaign, losing only one of their opening three matches, and notching up four points to sit in 10th place.

Christophe Pelissier's men followed up a 1-0 win over AS Monaco with defeat away at Montpellier as the hosts put three goals past them, with Enzo Le Fee's effort proving nothing more than a consolation in the end.

As Montpellier ran riot in the second half, Lorient lost their cool entering the closing minutes of the game with Houboulang Mendes and Jerome Hergault given their marching orders by the referee.

When it comes to the recent head-to-head record between these two sides, Lens have the advantage, having emerged victorious in each of their previous two matches against Lorient, including an emphatic 4-1 win in April.

Lens Ligue 1 form:
  • D
  • D
  • W

Lorient Ligue 1 form:
  • D
  • W
  • L



Team News

Lens celebrate scoring against Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 on September 10, 2020© Reuters

After receiving his marching orders in their previous match against Monaco, Cheick Doucoure is unavailable for selection this weekend and will have to sit this one out.

Having recovered from a calf injury, Massadio Haidara is expected to return to Haise's starting XI.

With Steven Fortes remaining unavailable, the young Christopher Wooh is in contention to start in defence.

The likes of Wesley Said, Charles Boli and Mamadou Camara are currently nursing injuries and will keep their place in the recovery room.

As for Lorient, they will be without Houboulang Mendes and Jerome Hergault who were handed red cards last time out and will be missing this weekend through suspension.

Jeremy Morel and Quentin Lecoeuche are ruled out through injury and the likes of Samuel Loric, Loris Mouyokolo and Stephane Diarra are doubtful ahead of this fixture.

Lens possible starting lineup:
Leca; Gradit, Danso, Medina; Clauss, Haidara, Fofana, Machado; Kakuta; Sotoca, Ganago

Lorient possible starting lineup:
Nardi; Silva, Laporte, Fontaine, Le Goff, Monconduit; Lemoine, Abergel, Le Fee; Moffi, Lauriente


SM words green background

We say: Lens 2-0 Lorient

This should be a difficult game for the visiting contingent, who are missing some key players in defence, opening them up to the possibility of conceding a handful of goals.

Lens, who are unbeaten in the league so far, will fancy hitting a couple of goals past Lorient's frail backline to secure all three points.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data



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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Lens win with a probability of 47.01%. A draw had a probability of 27% and a win for Lorient had a probability of 25.95%.

The most likely scoreline for a Lens win was 1-0 with a probability of 13.11%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-0 (9.2%) and 2-1 (8.89%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (12.68%), while for a Lorient win it was 0-1 (9.05%). The actual scoreline of 2-2 was predicted with a 4.3% likelihood.


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Game History

How you voted: Lens vs Lorient

Lens
84.4%
Draw
12.5%
Lorient
3.1%
32
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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CParis Saint-GermainPSG322010277324570
2MonacoMonaco33197764422264
3Lille331610750321858
4Brest331610750341658
5Nice32159837251254
6Lens33148114335850
7Lyon33155134754-750
8Marseille321211950391147
9Rennes331210115244846
10Toulouse331110124243-143
11Reims32118133946-741
12Montpellier HSCMontpellier331011124146-540
13StrasbourgStrasbourg33109143748-1139
14NantesNantes3396183051-2133
15Le HavreLe Havre33711153343-1032
16Metz3385203556-2129
17Lorient3368193866-2826
RClermont33510182655-2925


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