Aiming to keep their unbeaten record at the start of the new term intact, Lens will welcome struggling Lyon to Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Sunday night in Ligue 1.
Les Sang et Or recorded a share of the spoils in their fixture prior to the international break, whilst Les Gones earned a hard-fought victory over Strasbourg.
Match preview
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After back-to-back victories in Ligue 1 against relegation favourites Angers and Champions League-bound Brest to commence their 2024-25 schedule domestically, Lens dropped their maiden points of the top-tier campaign last time out, sharing the spoils with Monaco at Stade Louis-II on September 1.
Following a goalless first 80 minutes, the contest between Monaco and Les Sang et Or burst into life, with a 94th-minute equaliser from substitute Przemyslaw Frankowski saving the day for the visitors after Switzerland international Denis Zakaria had opened the scoring for the hosts 10 minutes earlier.
The only major disappointment for Lens so far this season arrived on the continental stage on August 29, when a two-goal defeat at the home of Greek giants Panathinaikos was enough to dump Will Still's troops out of European competition, with the French club losing their two-legged Conference League playoff.
Focusing on Ligue 1 matters, Les Sang et Or are currently occupying fifth position in the top-flight standings, level on points with second-placed Marseille and two point behind pacesetters Paris Saint-Germain, who are once again the clear favourites to reclaim the French crown in May.
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Trailing 3-1 after 58 minutes, Lyon were hurtling towards a third straight defeat of the season at Groupama Stadium against Strasbourg last time out, but the hosts were able to produce a magnificent turnaround, collecting all three points from the Friday night thriller.
Former Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion man Ainsley Maitland-Niles commenced the comeback with a strike in the 61st minute, before a brilliant brace from Turkish Super Lig-linked Gift Orban secured maximum points, to the despair of the travelling support of Le Racing.
Finishing sixth in Ligue 1 during 2023-24, Lyon have the start of their Europa League campaign later this month to look forward to, but the immediate focus must be on a domestic action, with Sunday's visitors sitting in 14th position after collecting three points from their opening three matches.
After moves to all of Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig and Fulham failed to materialise during the summer transfer window, Rayan Cherki will be a Les Gones player until at least January, with head coach Pierre Sage now tasked with reintroducing the playmaker into his matchday squad.
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Team News
![Wesley Said of RC Lens celebrates against Marseille on April 28, 2024 [on August 8, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/32/wesley-said.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Wesley Said of RC Lens celebrates against Marseille on April 28, 2024 [on August 8, 2024]")
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Suffering a sprained ankle during the draw at Monaco last time out, summer arrival Anass Zaroury is set to be sidelined until the end of the month for Lens.
Les Sang et Or's options on the flanks are further restricted by the absence of Jimmy Cabot, who is battling back from a knee injury sustained in August.
A star man at the focal point of the attack, Wesley Said has attracted interest from Turkish outfit Trabzonspor recently, although Lens are unwilling to sell the 29-year-old.
After a move to Fulham failed to go through last month, Ernest Nuamah remains in the Lyon medical room due to a thigh injury picked up during the loss to Monaco.
Les Gones are battling on without the services of World Cup winner Nicolas Tagliafico, with the Argentinian out because of a niggling calf injury.
Lens possible starting lineup:
Samba; Gradit, Khusanov, Medina; Aguilar, Thomasson, Diouf, Chavez, Costa; Sotoca, Said
Lyon possible starting lineup:
Perri; Mata, Caleta-Car, Niakhate; Maitland-Niles, Caqueret, Matic, Tolisso, Abner; Mikautadze, Lacazette
We say: Lens 1-0 Lyon
After winning back-to-back home games against sides competing in Europe this season last month, Lens should be confident of recording another positive result at Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Sunday night.
Lyon struggled massively on the road against Rennes, and it could be a similar story here for Les Gones, who have been worryingly inconsistent so far this season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
