Lens vs Lyon Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Last season’s Ligue 1 runners-up Lens come up against Olympique Lyonnais at Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Northern France on Friday after the international break.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / USA – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – Amazon Prime PPV & Ligue 1+ / USA – beIN Sports Connect
Lens preview: Disruptive start
Pierre Sage led Lens to second place in Ligue 1 last season but he has since departed from Crystal Palace and now his replacement, former Eintracht Frankfurt boss Dino Toppmoller, has surprisingly also departed and been replaced by Yannick Cahuzac.
Lens were expected to be very entertaining to watch under Toppmoller but Lens may well now again be adjusting their style of football, albeit they may well benefit from something of a mini pre-season once again.
Lyon preview: Strong Lyon
Olympique Lyonnais began their season by missing out on UEFA Champions League qualification but they have remained steadily strong domestically with former Lille boss Paulo Fonseca at the helm.
Lyon went into the international break on the back of impressive wins, defeating Anderlecht in Brussels in the UEFA Europa League before hammering Stade Rennais by four goals to nil at Parc OL to sit second upon the return to action for French sides.
Lens team news: Haidara injury
Former RB Leipzig midfielder Amadou Haidara has suffered an injury over the international break and is now a doubt for this one with Jhoanner Chavez working his way back to full fitness.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Risser; Aguilar, Antonio, Todibo, Udol; Cuisance, Bulatovic; Mesloub, Thauvin, Kadile; Sima
Unavailable: Baidoo (Injured), Nawrocki (Injured)
Questionable: Jhoanner Chavez (Fitness), Haidara (Injured)
Lyon team news: Couple of injuries
Nicolas Tagliafico is working his way back to fitness after an injury in their most recent outing, while fellow defender Moussa Niakhate succumbed to injury while away with Senegal over the break.
Predicted XI (4-1-2-1-2): Greif; Athekame, Bacher, Kluivert, Abner; Bidstrup; Morton, Tolisso; Sulc; Nuamah, Openda
Unavailable:
Questionable: Niakhate (Injured), Tagliafico (Injured)
Lens vs Lyon prediction
Lens will fancy themselves here, albeit there could well be some teething issues. There is some dispute as to why Toppmoller has been let go with arguments between the club’s hierarchy and his assistant coach. Lyon would have been frustrated by the long break in one sense given their form but it has been a busy start to the campaign and so they can now regroup and reset. Lyon may well be the team to be sided with here but both teams scoring seems a decent bet, too.
Lens vs Lyon tip: Lyon to win & both teams to score
