Lens vs Marseille Preview: Team News & Prediction
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
We have two of the more intriguing sides in Ligue 1 facing off against each other this weekend as Will Still’s Lens taking on Olympique de Marseille in what should be an entertaining encounter in the north of France.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 23rd November, 2024: UK – 4:00pm / US ET – 11:00am / US PT – 8:00am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports
Lens Preview: Having a look at Lens
Franck Haise has overperformed in Ligue 1 throughout the last few seasons with Lens but departed for Nice over the summer to be replaced by former Stade de Reims boss Will Still. The northerners begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting tucked inside the top-half after a frustrating and inconsistent start to the campaign.
Lens come into this one on the back of a much-needed but unconvincing, entertaining 3-2 defeat of Nantes at Stade Bollaert-Delelis a couple of weeks ago. They were 2-1 down in that match before a late Lens turnaround thanks to an 86th minute equaliser from Hamzat Ojediran and 90th minute winner from Adrien Thomasson.
Marseille Preview: Combustible Marseille
Over the summer, Olympique de Marseille underwent another revolution with a big summer of spending accompanied by the appointment of former Brighton and Hove Albion, Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk boss Roberto De Zerbi. L’OM sit tucked inside the top three and the UEFA Champions League spots ahead of the 12th match day of the 2024/25 campaign.
However, De Zerbi is coming under immense pressure in charge of Marseille and he has even suggested he should be sacked with it being his own fault. They now come into this one on the back of a 3-1 defeat at home to newly-promoted Auxerre at Stade Velodrome a couple of weeks ago, being 3-0 down at half-time in that match.
Lens Team News: Suspensions and injuries
Lens are dealing with a couple of suspension issues for the visit of Marseille as both Jonathan Gradit and Abdulkadir Khusanov are unavailable for the northerners.
As well as the suspended duo, Lens have a few key injury concerns such as Ruben Aguilar, Jimmy Cabot, Sidi Bane, Wesley Said and summer signing Martin Satriano.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Samba; Jhoanner Chavez, Danso, Medina; Frankowski, El Aynaoui, Thomasson, Deiver Machado; Diouf, Sotoca; Lascary
Unavailable: Gradit (Suspended), Aguilar (Injured), Bane (Injured), Cabot (Injured), Khusanov (Suspended), Said (Injured), Satriano (Injured)
Questionable:
Marseille Team News: De Zerbi decisions
Roberto De Zerbi has used the vast majority of his deep Marseille squad throughout this season as they have lots of injury issues and they have a few for this weekend, too.
Cameroonian international forward Faris Moumbagna is unavailable alongside injury issues such as Ruben Blanco, Derek Cornelius and Valentin Carboni.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Rulli; Pol Lirola, Balerdi, Brassier, Merlin; Hojbjerg, Rabiot; Greenwood, Rowe, Luiz Henrique; Maupay
Unavailable: Ruben Blanco (Injured), Cornelius (Injured), Carboni (Injured), Nadir (Injured), Moumbagna (Injured)
Questionable:
Lens vs Marseille Prediction
Will Still and his Lens side started the season steadily with a defensive style of football that eventually saw him dismissed in charge of Reims at the back end of the season but Lens have a better level and quality of player. They face a Marseille side that are fragile at the moment, as 15 goals conceded in 11 games would show. A double chance bet in favour of the hosts looks a good bet as De Zerbi comes close to another combustion.
Lens vs Marseille Tip: Double chance – Lens to win or draw
