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Both Lens and Nantes have plenty to play for as they meet at Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Ligue 1 on Friday night.
The hosts are six points behind Paris Saint-Germain in the title race, but with three games left for them, they are still in with an albeit small chance of winning the league.
As for Nantes, anything other than a win here would confirm relegation to Ligue 2, and they need to gain five points on Auxerre with just two matches left to just occupy the relegation play-off spot.
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 Ligue 1 predictions!
Contents
Lens vs. Nantes key stats
- Lens are unbeaten in four games in all competitions (W2, D2).
- Nantes have won just once in nine matches (D3, L5).
- Lens have won four of the previous five H2Hs (L1).
Lens vs. Nantes preview: Hosts to stay in title chase?
| Lens | vs | Nantes |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd | Position | 17th |
| 64 | Points | 23 |
| 61 | Goals For | 29 |
| 33 | Goals Against | 51 |
| 10 | Clean Sheets | 7 |
| 1st | Home Rank | 17th |
| 3rd | Away Rank | 15th |
Lens know that realistically they will have to win all their remaining league games, including against PSG, if they are to overtake the Parisians and win the title.
Pierre Sage's side can still make history as being the first to deliver a Ligue 1 title to Lens this century, and only their second ever after first winning it in 1998.
However, their dream is unlikely to become a reality after a 1-1 draw away at Nice last time out has them six points behind the league leaders with just three matches and nine points left to play for.
Also, Lens have been dealt a blow with Saud Abdulhamid, Adrien Thomasson and Mamadou Sangare all suspended for this clash, although they should still have too much for Nantes on home soil.
Indeed, the visitors are second-from-bottom in the league and are not good travellers, as they are winless in seven away games (D2, L5).
This does not bode well for Vahid Halilhodzic's team, who must win in order to give them any chance of survival.
At 73 years of age, he is the oldest manager ever in Ligue 1, and having had two predecessors already this season, Halilhodzic was given an almost impossible job.
Nantes were also dealt a further blow in their previous outing when Deiver Machado was forced off injured, and despite a spirited 3-0 home victory against Marseille, they seem to have left it too little too late.
Lens vs. Nantes form guide & betting tips
| Lens | vs | Nantes |
|---|---|---|
| W-L-W-D-D | League Form | D-D-L-L-W |
| 8 | Points | 5 |
| 7th | Form Table | 12th |
| 12 | Goals For | 5 |
| 10 | Goals Against | 6 |
| W-W-W-D-D | Form (all comps) | D-D-L-L-W |
Whispers predicts: Lens 3-1 Nantes
Lens are as short as 2/5 to win, and while we agree with the bookies, those odds are too short for us to place a bet on.
Instead, we like the slightly better price of BTTS - Yes at 4/5, given what is at stake for both teams and the fact it has come through in each of Lens' last four games in all competitions.
Three of those have also seen five or more total goals scored, so Over 3.5 goals at 7/5 looks like potentially good value.
In terms of our final pick, Allan Saint-Maximin has netted in his previous three competitive appearances, so Saint-Maximin to score anytime at 2/1 appeals to us.
Overall, we are predicting a 3-1 Lens win, which can be backed at 11/1.
> BTTS - Yes at 4/5 | Likelihood: Probable
> Over 3.5 goals at 7/5 | Likelihood: Possible
> Saint-Maximin to score anytime at 2/1 | Likelihood: Possible