Lens vs Nantes – News and Probable Lineups

Nantes will head to Stade Bollaert-Delelis to face Lens on Friday, needing a victory to keep their faint hopes of avoiding relegation alive.

A recent 1-1 draw with Nice has left Les Sang et Or in second place, trailing Paris Saint-Germain by six points in Ligue 1, while Nantes achieved a surprising 3-0 victory over Marseille but still occupies the 17th position.

Match overview

They have hung on longer than many anticipated, but at this point, Lens would need an extraordinary set of circumstances to surpass PSG and claim the title.

Pierre Sage’s side has dropped points in three of their last four league matches and could face their first run of three consecutive top-flight games without a win on Friday.

Despite this, two of their last three matches in the league will be at Stade Bollaert-Delelis, where they’ve managed 13 victories out of their last 14 home matches.

Securing a win in this match would keep their Ligue 1 title ambitions alive as they approach next week’s crucial encounter with PSG.

The Coupe de França finalists only need one point on Friday to secure a position in next season’s Champions League League Phase, while a victory coupled with a Lyon loss would guarantee them second place at worst.

In their last six home games against Nantes, Les Sang et Or have taken at least a point, winning five encounters.

Nantes has managed to keep their hopes alive for the time being, celebrating their fifth win of the season on Saturday against OM.

This marked Vahid Halilhodzic’s first victory in his second tenure as manager, leaving them five points shy of Auxerre for the relegation playoff spot.

Currently, that represents their only chance of remaining in Ligue 1 for the next season, indicating they must win in all of their remaining fixtures.

A loss on Friday would extinguish any possibility of survival, while they will need Nice to defeat Auxerre on Sunday to avoid automatic relegation to Ligue 2.

Nantes has secured points in two of their last three away fixtures in this competition, achieving merely two victories outside of Stade de la Beaujoire this season.

This year, La Maison Jaune has conceded goals during second-half stoppage time four times when they could have claimed points, resulting in them finishing with nothing on three occasions.

Team News

Regis Gurtner may miss out for Lens due to a hamstring strain, Kyllian Antonio is dealing with a sore foot, Jonathan Gradit has a lower leg fracture, Nidal Celik is nursing a knock, while Saud Abdulhamid, Adrien Thomasson, and Mamadou Sangare will be serving suspensions.

Allan Saint-Maximin gave Lens the lead in the match against Nice at the hour mark, but Robin Risser conceded a goal just six minutes before full-time.

For Nantes, Kelvin Amian and former Lens left-back Deiver Machado are struggling with knocks, Fabien Centonze remains sidelined due to a cruciate ligament tear, and Tylel Tati’s participation is uncertain due to a leg issue.

Ignatius Ganago, Remy Cabella, and Matthis Abline each scored in the second half last weekend, with Patrik Calrgren stepping in for Anthony Lopes to secure a clean sheet with seven saves.

Lens probable starting XI:

Risser; Ganiou, Baidoo, Sarr; Aguilar, Bulatovic, Haidara, Udol; Thauvin, Saint-Maximin; Edward

Nantes probable starting XI:

Carlgren; Guilbert, Awaziem, Cozza, Youssef; Lepenant, Sissoko; Kaba, Abline, Cabella; Ganago

Even with several key absences, we believe Lens will manage to contain a struggling Nantes team that has been inconsistent and has had difficulty scoring on the road throughout the season.