Monaco vs Lens Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 French Ligue 1
THE FACTS
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
When is Monaco vs Lens on and what time does it start? Monaco vs Lens will take place on Saturday 2nd September, 2023 – 19:45 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Monaco vs Lens? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Monaco vs Lens on in the UK? TNT Sports have the rights to Ligue 1 matches in the UK, so it is worth checking their schedule for Monaco vs Lens
Where can I stream Monaco vs Lens in the UK? If Monaco vs Lens is televised on TNT Sports, then subscribers can stream the match live on discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
MONACO
Monaco, once again, have had another fairly impressive summer on paper and they will hope to challenge towards the top end of the table once again. The controversial continued selection of captain Wissam Ben Yedder, who has been charged with rape, is a major blight on what has been an impressive start to Adi Hutter’s reign in the principality.
The Monagasque began the 2023/24 Ligue 1 season with an impressive 4-2 defeat of the always stubborn and difficult to beat Clermont. Since then they have hammered Strasbourg by three goals to nil before then sharing a thrilling 3-3 draw with Nantes last weekend, meaning they have scored ten goals in their opening three matches of the season.
LENS
Since gaining promotion back to the French top-flight in 2020, Lens have consistently overperformed their pre-season expectations, reaching as high as second last season and genuinely pushing PSG for the title. Over the summer, though, they have lost their captain Seko Fofana to Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr, as well as their key striker Lois Openda to RB Leipzig; who has been replaced in a big money move for Elye Wahi from Montpellier.
Those summer departures, though, have combined with an underwhelming start to the campaign to produce a mood of concern around Lens. They began with a 3-2 defeat away to Stade Brest, in which they had led by two goals to nil early on, before being held to a 1-1 draw by Rennes and then eventually being comfortably beaten 3-1 by PSG in their most recent outing, last weekend.
THE TEAM NEWS
MONACO
Adi Hutter has several injuries in his squad, such as new signing Mohammed Salisu, and he remains without key forward Breel Embolo due to a severe ACL injury.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Kohn; Singo, Zakaria, Magassa; Vanderson, Fofana, Camara, Henrique; Minamino, Golovin; Ben Yedder
UNAVAILABLE: Akliouche (Illness), Aguilar (Injured), Ben Seghir (Injured), Salisu (Injured), Diop (Injured), Embolo (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
LENS
Lens are without for first-team players due to injury and the visitors will be a little concerned as we move through the season due to UEFA Champions League football also set to hurt their depth.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Samba; Gradit, Danso, Medina; Frankowski, Abdul Samed, Diouf, Machado; Thomasson, Fulgini; Wahi
UNAVAILABLE: Poreba (Injured), Said (Injured), Cabot (Injured), Farinez (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
These two sides are likely to lineup with similar 3-4-2-1 systems chock full of excellent attacking talent. The depth in the Monaco side is impressive with two attacking midfielders, Takumi Minamino and Aleksandr Golovin, supporting Wissam Ben Yedder. The hosts also boast the likes of Myron Boadu and Krepin Diatta. Lens, on the other hand, despite losing key players, will likely give a full debut to Elye Wahi and will be confident of exposing Hutter’s high press. This should be quite an intriguing and entertaining encounter in the principality.
TIP: OVER 2.5 GOALS
