Lens vs Nantes Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2024-25 French Ligue 1
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
It has been a frustrated yet encouraging start to life as Lens boss for Will Still with the northerners still in a good position to attack the upper echelons of the table as they welcome a Nantes side sliding down the table.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 9th November, 2024 - UK – 6:00pm / US ET – 1:00pm / US PT – 10:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports
LENS PREVIEW: LENS LOOKING TO KICK ON
Over the summer, Lens lost manager Franck Haise to Nice and he was replaced by former Stade de Reims boss Will Still. The English-Belgian coach began his reign with a long-ish unbeaten run of form but they struggled for a cutting edge in attack that saw them lack scoring opportunities and lack wins.
The home team come into this one on the back of a slender 1-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in their most recent outing, last weekend. The northerners do begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting tucked inside the top-half but they have now endured back-to-back losses ahead of this one.
NANTES PREVIEW: NANTES NEED SOMETHING
Nantes have been struggling since a bright start to the campaign and the Canaries come into this one on the back of a 2-1 defeat at home to title challenging Olympique de Marseille in their most recent outing last weekend at Stade de la Beaujoire thanks to goals from Mason Greenwood and Neal Maupay.
That means they begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting just outside of the bottom three and the danger zone under Antoine Kombouare, who returned to the club towards the end of last season to steer them clear from the relegation places following the sackings of both Pierre Aristouy and Jocelyn Gourvennac.
LENS TEAM NEWS: SUSPENSION ISSUES
Frustratingly for Will Still and Lens, the hosts are dealing with a couple of suspension issues this weekend as both Abdukodir Khusanov and M’Bala Nzola are out.
As well as those two, Lens have key injuries as Angelo Fulgini, Wesley Said, Ruben Aguilar, Sidi Bane, Martin Satriano and Jimmy Cabot all remain sidelined.
PREDICTED XI (X-X-X-X): PREDICTED XI HERE
UNAVAILABLE: Bane (Injured), Aguilar (Injured), Khusanov (Suspended), Cabot (Injured), Fulgini (Injured), Satriano (Injured), Nzola (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE:
NANTES TEAM NEWS: ZEZE SUSPENDED
Key defender Nathan Zeze is now out suspended for Nantes ahead of this weekend’s clash with Nantes which is a major blow for Kombouare.
There are no fresh injury concerns for the visitors, though, with only Johann Lepenant missing for them as he continues to deal with a calf injury.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Lafont; Coco, Castelletto, Duverne, Cozza; Douglas Augusto, Gbamin; Thomas, Kadewere, Abline; Mostafa Mohamed
UNAVAILABLE: Zeze (Suspended), Lepenant (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
LENS VS NANTES PREDICTION
Lens have been defensively rigid and solid with Will Still’s frustrating style of football still the same as it was at Stade de Reims when the relatively big spenders decided to part ways with him. Nantes have struggled since August, though, and look set for another relegation battle. It may not be thrilling but Lens, especially with home advantage, should be favoured to take three points in this one.
LENS VS NANTES TIP: LENS TO WIN & UNDER 3.5 GOALS
