A pair of Ligue 1 sides fighting for different things in the latter portion of the campaign will square off on Friday as Lens welcome Lorient to Stade Bollaert-Delelis.
Les Sang et Or are seeking a place in Europe and are currently five points behind Nice following a 2-1 loss to Marseille, while Lorient are trying to climb above the relegation zone, three points below that line after losing by that same score to Toulouse.
Match preview
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Time is not on the side of Lens, who have a lot of ground to make up in their quest to book a place in Europe for a second successive campaign.
Franck Haise's men have not done themselves any favours in recent weeks, winning just one of their last six matches in this competition (1-0 over Clermont).
Under Haise, Lens have only lost one of their seven top-flight encounters against Lorient, suffering a 2-0 defeat at Stade du Moustoir in February 2022.
Two of their final three league contests occur at Stade Bollaert-Delelis, where they have claimed at least a point in two of their last three domestic affairs.
Since the beginning of the previous campaign, they have won 25 Ligue 1 matches on home soil, more than any other team in the French top-flight over that period.
Last month, they squandered five points when drawing first blood, which is what is currently separating them from a place in Europe next season.
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Any momentum that Lorient built up in February is long gone as Le FCL have slid further and further down the standings, putting themselves in serious relegation danger.
Lorient won three successive league fixtures at the start of February but have only claimed maximum points once in this competition since then (2-1 win over Rennes).
Their next two domestic encounters take place away from home, where they have claimed 10 of their last 13 points in this competition.
Regis Le Bris has seen his side struggle mightily along the back end throughout the campaign, conceding a league-high 61 times, including multiple strikes in each of their last four games.
They have lost each of their last five Ligue 1 affairs, the longest current losing run in the French top flight, while registering 17 defeats domestically this season, seven more than they had at this same stage of the previous campaign.
Les Merlus have only won one of their last 10 visits to Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Ligue 1, with that lone triumph occurring in April 2011 (3-2).
Team News
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Jimmy Cabot missed another encounter for Lens last week due to an ACL injury, while Salis Abdul Samed has recovered from a foot issue but was not on the team sheet against Marseille.
Jonathan Gradit is eligible to return from his yellow card suspension, while Ayanda Sishuba came on as a substitute after sitting out of their match with Clermont.
Wesley Said also came on as a substitute last weekend, replacing Neil El Aynaoui just past the hour mark and scoring their only goal of the match.
Quentin Boisgard missed the previous encounter for Lorient due to a sore foot, Igor Silva has a problem with his knee and Bonke Innocent is dealing with a thigh injury.
Bamba Dieng may have to sit out of another match for Les Merlus because of a calf strain, while Ayman Kari is questionable due to a knee injury.
Julien Ponceau started in an attacking midfield role against Toulouse, playing alongside Badredine Bouanani and scoring their only goal.
Lens possible starting lineup:
Samba; Gradit, Danso, Medina; Frankowski, Costa, El Ayanoui, Machado; Sotoca, Fulgini; Wahi
Lorient possible starting lineup:
Mvogo; Adjei, Talbi, Toure; Katseris, Abergel, Louza, Yongwa; Bouanani, Ponceau; Bamba
We say: Lens 2-0 Lorient
Neither side have been all that consistent of late, but Lorient have their share of glaring holes at the back when compared to Lens, and we believe the home side will be able to capitalise on that.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
