Preview: Lens vs Angers – prediction, staff information, lineups

Lens have one other alternative to briefly take excessive spot in Ligue 1 once they welcome Angers to Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Friday.

A 2-1 defeat at Lorient final weekend saved Les Sang et Or a degree under Paris Saint-Germain in second, whereas Angers sit twelfth following a 2-0 defeat away to Nice.

Match preview

Once once more Lens didn’t put some stress on the reigning league champions final week, with this staff dropping factors on a way more constant foundation of late.

Pierre Sage has seen his aspect win simply considered one of their earlier 4 top-flight affairs, making their margin for error a lot slimmer as Les Parisiens now have a recreation in hand on them.

Three of their subsequent 4 league video games are at residence, with Lens successful 11 of their earlier 12 home outings at Stade Bollaert-Delelis.

In 2025-26, they’ve gained all however considered one of their residence video games on this competitors when main after 45 minutes, shedding 3-2 to Monaco in February.

With 56 factors so far, the northern French aspect have two extra factors than that they had at this identical stage of their finest marketing campaign this decade in 2022-23, ending second with 83 factors, when there have been 4 extra fixtures than there are actually.

Les Sang et Or are unbeaten of their earlier three residence matches versus their upcoming opponents on this competitors, blanking them 1-0 on this precise fixture a season in the past.

© Imago / PsnewZ

Creativity stays low at Angers because the aspect with the second-lowest anticipated objectives ratio within the league nonetheless in a hunch.

Over their final 5 Ligue 1 affairs, this staff have failed to seek out the again of the online 4 occasions, with solely two objectives scored away from residence within the competitors this 12 months.

One of these objectives got here of their earlier highway fixture towards Nantes in a 1-0 win, giving them an opportunity to say consecutive clear sheets because the guests for the second time domestically this season.

Alexandre Dujeux’s males may win their tenth match of the marketing campaign on Friday, equalling their total whole from 2024-25.

Seven occasions this season, they’ve failed to attain away from residence domestically, struggling three one-goal defeats in these video games.

Les Scoistes have misplaced six straight Ligue 1 conferences with Lens, 5 by a single aim, and on Friday, they will declare their first victory at Stade Bollaert-Delelis since 2021 (3-1).

Lens Ligue 1 type:

Lens type (all competitions):

Angers Ligue 1 type:

Team News

© Imago / Press Wire

It is probably going Regis Gurtner, Samson Baidoo and joint top-goalscorer Wesley Said will probably be sidelined for Lens because of hamstring strains, whereas Jonathan Gradit has a decrease leg harm.

At the identical time, Ruben Aguilar is uncertain due to an harm, as is Allan Saint-Maximin, who’s recovering from a calf challenge.

Odsonne Edouard could possibly be known as upon to contribute if Said is unable to go and the membership’s joint top-goalscorer had their solely strike in a shedding effort versus Lorient.

Over at Angers, Carlens Arcus is a query mark as he’s coping with a sore groin, with Lens loanee Herve Koffi anticipated to get the decision between the sticks as soon as once more.

Yassin Belkhdim is eligible to return from his yellow card suspension, although it stays to be seen if he will probably be obtainable, as he offers with a knock.

Another participant on mortgage from Lens, eager to make an affect for Angers, is Goduine Koyalipou, a central African striker who has but to attain for them this season.

Lens doable beginning lineup:

Risser; Celik, Ganiou, Sarr; Abdulhamid, Sangare, Thomasson, Udol; Thauvin, Fofana; Edouard

Angers doable beginning lineup:

Koffi; Courcoul, Camara, Lefort; Raolisoa, Mouton, Belkebla, van den Boomen, Djibirin; Sbai, Koyalipou

We say: Lens 1-0 Angers

Facing such a robust defensive unit like Lens, Angers might have a tricky time discovering options and that frustration is strictly what the house aspect might want to pounce with a gaggle filled with sturdy attacking depth.

For knowledge evaluation of the more than likely outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.