Lens-PSG is a Ligue 1 Week 17 match and is played on Sunday at 20:45: stats, odds, predictions
With Leo Messi still involved in Argentina’s World Cup celebrations, Psg struggled more than expected to get the better of a resilient Strasbourg side on the first day of Ligue 1 post-World Cup.
Christophe Galtier’s battleship suffered either from too many absences or a poor form, as they were returning to the pitch after almost two months. And had it not been for a fantastic play by Kylian Mbappé, they would probably have had to be content with a draw, their third in the league. It was the transalpine phenomenon who earned and converted the penalty kick for the final 2-1, delivering the three points to his team in extremis, invaluable to widen the gap – now at +7 – against the pursuer Lens, held back on the pitch by Nice. Galtier was wild at the end of the game, aware that he had avoided a half-hearted misstep that would have made a lot of noise, just a few days before the big match that could allow the Parisians to mortgage the title.
Lens have always won at home
Yes, because the reigning French champions will be on stage on New Year’s Day at Franck Haise’s home ground, the only team trying to keep up with them (so to speak). In case of success, the gap would become ten points, at which point Mbappé and his teammates would be almost unreachable.
Labeau del Lens
Psg, however, will be without Brazilian Neymar, who was sent off against Strasbourg for a double caution. Lens, as we were saying, are fresh from a blank-net draw on the Côte d’Azur. A complicated match that the Sang et Or were unable to unlock. Haise is relying on an outstanding home performance: nobody, not even Psg, has done better than Lens at home, where they have won eight out of eight and conceded only six goals.
The Prediction
Lens, in addition to their extraordinary home performance, have often proved indigestible for Psg in the last two seasons, repeatedly avoiding defeat against France’s strongest team. Without Neymar and Messi, but with a Mbappé in a state of grace, the Parisians should take away at least a point, but it is not certain that they will be able to conquer the ‘Bollaert’ stadium, still unbeaten this season. In short, a draw cannot be ruled out in a match where both are likely to score.
Lens v PSG line-ups
- LENS (3-4-2-1): Samba; Gradit, Danso, Medina; Frankowski, Samed, Fofana, Machado; Sotoca, Saïd; Openda.
- PSG (4-3-1-2): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Sergio Ramos, Mukiélé; Vitinha, Verratti, Fabian Ruiz; Carlos Soler; Sarabia, Mbappé.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
