Le Mans vs Lens prediction

So far in the Ligue 1, Le Mans have won one, drawn four and lost four of nine, with 11 goals scored and 18 conceded, good for 17th place and 7 points.

Over the last six matches it has been one win, four draws and one defeat, averaging 1.5 goals for and 1.3 against. Last time out they drew 1-1 with Nice; before that came a 3-2 defeat away at Rennes and a 2-2 draw at home to Brest.

Le Mans haven't won in three. They have scored in each of their last six. At home they've won none of two recently (3 scored, 3 conceded).

Lens have won four, drawn one and lost four of their nine Ligue 1 games so far, scoring 16 and letting in 13. That has them 9th on 13 points.

Their last six in all competitions read three wins, no draws and three defeats, at 2.2 goals scored and 1.5 conceded per game. Last time out they beat Slavia Praha 3-2 away; before that came a 1-0 defeat at home to Lorient and a 2-1 defeat away at Strasbourg.

The defence is a worry: they have conceded in each of their last four. They failed to score in two of those games. On the road they've won two of three recently (8 scored, 4 conceded).

Home and away form points to Lens: Le Mans have won none of their last two at home, Lens two of their last three on the road. Six points separate the two sides in the table. Lens also have the better goal difference over recent weeks.

We make Lens clear favourites at 56%, with Le Mans on 19% and the draw at 25%.

On goals, it expects around 3.5 in the game: 1.2 for Le Mans and 2.3 for Lens. Over 2.5 goals is 68% and both teams scoring 63%. When they last met, on 27 Jul 2019, Lens won 2-1.