Lens vs Saint-Etienne Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Lens are perhaps treading water in the middle-of-the-table in Ligue 1 as the northerners now prepare to take on Saint-Etienne that sit firmly in the bottom two and the relegation places.
Kick-off date/time: Sunday 6th April, 2025: 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: Frustrated Lens
English-Belgian coach Will Still has been having to deal with quite significant personal matters but as he begins to turn his attention back to Lens, his side have slipped away from the top seven and the European spots in Ligue 1.
The home team come into this one on the back of back-to-back victories before the March international break but returning from that break with a 1-0 defeat in the Derby du Nord against Lille at Stade Pierre-Mauroy due to a 19th minute strike from Matias Fernandez-Pardo.
Saint-Etienne Preview: Struggling ASSE
Saint-Etienne took the plunge over the winter break to replace former Montpellier Herault coach Olivier Dall’Oglio with Eirik Horneland but things have not improved as they sit firmly in the bottom two and the automatic relegation places in Ligue 1.
ASSE will likely be given a further three points from a suspended clash against Montpellier a few weeks ago but they returned from the international break with a 16th defeat of the campaign whereby they were demolished by six goals to one by Paris Saint-Germain.
Lens Team News: A few doubts
Ahead of the visit of Saint-Etienne this weekend, Lens have a few injury issues to deal with as Manchester City loanee is a key doubt alongside the experienced Jonathan Gradit, whilst both Jhoanner Chavez and Martin Satriano are definite absentees.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Ryan; Agbonifo, Sarr, Medina; Aguilar, Mendy, El Aynaoui, Deiver Machado; Sotoca, Nzola, Said
Unavailable: Jhoanner Chavez (Injured), Satriano (Injured)
Questionable: Juma Bah (Injured), Gradit (Injured), Labeau (Injured)
Saint-Etienne Team News: Still no Boakye
There are no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues for Saint-Etienne to deal with as they make the trip north to Stade Bollaert-Delelis. They do remain without forward Augustine Boakye due to an ankle injury.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Larsonneur; Macon, Batubinsika, Nade, Petrot; Bouchouari, Ekwah, Tardieu; Cardona, Stassin, Davitashvili
Unavailable: Boakye (Injured)
Questionable:
Lens vs Saint-Etienne Prediction
Lens have tried to play Will Still’s quite progressive and possession-dominant approach this season but it does undoubtedly simply lack goals and a bit of incision in the final third with just 31 goals scored in their 27 games. They now face a Saint-Etienne side that do appear destined for an immediate return to the second-tier. With home advantage, a low-scoring Lens victory would appear likely for this one up in the north of France.
Lens vs Saint-Etienne Tip: Lens to win & under 3.5 goals
