Le Mans vs Lens Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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Back in Ligue 1, Le Mans have been competitive as they now take on last season’s runners-up Lens at Stade Marie-Marvingt on Sunday.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / USA – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – Ligue 1+ / USA – beIN Sports Connect
Le Mans preview: Competitive Le Mans
Following their promotion to the top-flight for the first time in 15 years, Le Mans have started the season reasonably well and are expected to competitive in a campaign that is still expected to revolve around a relegation battle.
The hosts began with a 2-2 draw against Stade Brest before a 3-2 loss to a strong Stade Rennais side. They then shared a 1-1 draw with Nice at the Allianz Riviera in their most recent outing, last weekend.
Lens preview: Inconsistent but fun
Lens finished as runners-up last year before the departure of Pierre Sage to Crystal Palace, replaced by former Eintracht Frankfurt boss Dino Toppmoller, who has a reputation for an extremely attacking and exciting style of football.
The northerners began the season by winning the Trophee des Champions against Paris Saint-Germain before a hammering of Auxerre. They have since suffered successive league wins before a dramatic 3-2 win against Slavia Prague in the UEFA Champions League.
Le Mans team news: Couple of doubts
Ahead of the visit of Lens this weekend, Le Mans are dealing with a couple of doubts for this one as goalkeeper Nicolas Kocik could again be potentially sidelined alongside forward Erwin Colas.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Hatfout; Boisse, Voyer, Raul Torrente; Bamba, Bourabaa, Lauray, Vercruysse, Calodat; Gueye, Mafouta
Unavailable:
Questionable: Kocik (Injured), Colas (Injured)
Lens team news: Defensive injuries
Souleymane Sagnan is missing through suspension with both Samson Baidoo and Maik Nawrocki unavailable due to injury, while Jhoanner Chavez and Saud Abdulhamid remain doubtful for the visitors.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Risser; Aguilar, Ganiou, Antonio; Skoras, Cuisance, Haidara, Udol; Thauvin, Hazard; Sima
Unavailable: Baidoo (Injured), Nawrocki (Injured), Sagnan (Suspended)
Questionable: Jhoanner Chavez (Injured), Abdulhamid (Injured), Titraoui (Injured)
Le Mans vs Lens prediction
In their opening game in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League, the dramatic and chaotic Toppmoller style took over for Lens. Slavia were down to ten men but twice took the lead in the second half, the second time being in the 88th minute, before Florian Thauvin and Ruben Aguilar scored stoppage-time goals to win. They are expected to be stretched throughout the campaign and Le Mans themselves have been competitive so both teams scoring seems a very decent bet for this one.
Le Mans vs Lens tip: Both teams to score
