Lens vs Montpellier Preview: Team News & Prediction
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The appointment of Will Still was a bold one after an inconsistent start to his managerial career with Stade de Reims and Lens themselves have been inconsistent as they now take on a struggling Montpellier Herault side in the north of France this weekend.
Kick-off date/time: Sunday 8th December, 2024: UK – 2:00pm / US ET – 9:00am / US PT – 6:00am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports
Lens Preview: Looking at Lens
The aforementioned English-Belgian coach Will Still has his Lens side sitting just outside of the top six ahead of this weekend’s round of fixtures. The home team come into this one on the back of two much-needed wins in their last three matches and they most recently defeated Still’s former side, Reims, last weekend.
In that game at Stade Auguste-Delaune II, Lens won by two goals to nil with a goal in either half being scored by Adrien Thomasson and then M’Bala Nzola. They have been quite dull and ineffective to watch, though, throughout this campaign with just 15 goals scored in their 13 games.
Montpellier Preview: Trying to move on
In the opening few months of this campaign, Montpellier Herault sacked Armenian coach Michel Der Zakarian with Montpellier languishing down towards the bottom-of-the-table and former Ivory Coast boss, and boyhood Montpellier supporter, Jean-Louis Gasset, tasked with keeping them in the top-flight.
The visitors come into this one on the back of performances improving and the odd improved result, too, as was the case last weekend when they faced high flying Lille. They went 2-1 down in that match due to a brace of Jonathan David penalties but managed to steal a point with a second-half stoppage-time equaliser from Arnaud Nordin.
Lens Team News: Deiver Machado suspension
Lens have a few injury concerns and a suspension issue for this weekend with Deiver Machado now missing through suspension after picking up too many yellow cards.
As well as his absence, Lens are also dealing with several injury issues as Sidi Bane is sidelined alongside the likes of Ruben Aguilar, Jimmy Cabot and Wesley Said.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Samba; Frankowski, Danso, Khusanov, Medina; Diouf, Thomasson; Zaroury, Fulgini, Lascary; Nzola
Unavailable: Bane (Injured), Aguilar (Injured), Deiver Machado (Suspended), Cabot (Injured), Said (Injured)
Questionable:
Montpellier Team News: Couple of suspensions
Montpellier are dealing with a plethora of injury issues but they also have a couple of suspensions, too, as both Rabby Nzingoula and Tanguy Coulibaly are unavailable.
As well as those two, Montpellier have several injury issues throughout their side such as Kiki Kouyate, Khalil Fayad and key attacker Akor Adams.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Lecomte; Tchato, Maksimovic, Omeragic, Sylla; Ferri, Chotard; Al Tamari, Savanier, Nordin; Khazri
Unavailable: Issoufou (Injured), Mincarelli (Injured), Kouyate (Injured), Nzingoula (Suspended), Coulibaly (Suspended), Fayad (Injured), Toure (Injured), Adams (Injured)
Questionable:
Lens vs Montpellier Prediction
The home team come into this one on the back of a much-needed victory against Reims last weekend and they will be expected to propel themselves into the top six. Lens have been a little too defensive and inconsistent in attacking areas of the pitch. They now take on a Montpellier Herault side that have struggled throughout the campaign with their own limited attacking style. Lens are favourites with their home advantage and it is expected to be a low-scoring affair, too.
Lens vs Montpellier Tip: Lens to win & under 3.5 goals
