Lens vs Lorient prediction, preview & betting tips – 05/09/26

Lens host Lorient in an attempt to get back to winning ways after falling to their first defeat of the Ligue 1 season last week. They meet at Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Saturday, 5 September.

Strasbourg inflicted Lens’ first defeat of the campaign, beating them 2-1, while Lorient remain winless after the opening two rounds.

Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.

Lens vs Lorient key stats

• Lens have won both their home games of the new season.
• The Blood and Gold have lost only one of their last 12 home H2Hs.
• Lorient beat Lens 2-1 on home turf last season – their most recent meeting.
• Les Merlus have lost only three of their last 12 Ligue 1 away matches.

Lens vs Lorient preview: Merlus to suffer another winless league fixture

Lens’ first game of the season, where they beat PSG 1-0 in the French Super Cup, set the tone for their Ligue 1 exploits.

They opened the league campaign with an impressive 5-2 win over Auxerre, but quickly slumped 2-1 to Strasbourg in their most recent outing.

A second-half comeback from Le Racing overturned Florian Thauvin’s first-half penalty lead, ultimately handing Lens their first away defeat of the term in the process.

Saud Abdelhamid, Jhoanner Chavez, Jonathan Gradit, Samson Baidoo and Maik Nawrocki are confirmed absentees for the hosts.

Lorient finished last season in 10th position and opened the new campaign with a goalless stalemate with Nice.

One week later, and most recently, newly-promoted Troyes beat them 2-1, as they remain winless this term. That result took their streak without success to three league games.

The last time they went winless in three opening games of a new season was exactly 10 years ago.

This trip is going to be no walk in the park, having last won at the Bollaert-Delelis in 2019, when Lens were still playing in Ligue 2.

Lens vs Lorient form guide & betting tips

Whispers predicts: Lens 3-1 Lorient

BTTS – Yes at 4/5 (1.80) offers clear value, according to Bet365. Lorient broke their season duck thanks to Jean Makengo’s second-half strike vs. Troyes, and they are expected to get a consolation here as well. Lens are favourites to score, perhaps even first.

Backing Florian Thauvin as a first goalscorer carries weight at 11/2 (5.50). He has opened the scoring on both occasions in Ligue 1 for Lens this season.

Both teams are expected to score in what is predicted to be a tight contest despite Lens’ superiority on paper. Over 3.5 total goals at 13/8 (2.62) offers significant dividends.

Draw/Lens at 37/10 (4.70) also carries weight, with the hosts expected to take it up a notch after the interval, just as they did against Auxerre on the opening matchday.

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