Lens vs Rennes Prediction & Betting Tips (7 February)

By beating Le Havre by the smallest of margins 1-0 on the last day, Lens showed that its fall to Marseille 3-1 two weeks ago, putting an end to its record series of 10 victories in all competitions, did not deviate from its trajectory. Dispossessed of the leadership chair by PSG, the Artesian club is 2 points behind and ahead of its closest pursuer, OM, by 7 lengths. It has become a serious contender for qualification for the Champions League over the months and has the co-best defense of the year with PSG. Lens played a qualifier for the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France on Wednesday at Troyes L2. Rennes is one of the Ligue 1 teams in difficulty at the start of the year.

Since its sad draw conceded at home against Le Havre 1-1, the Rouge et Noir club suffered the law of its Breton neighbor Lorient 0-2, still on its lawn, and was shattered in Monaco 4-0 last weekend. With one point taken out of 9 possible, he is relegated to 8 points from the top 4 and sees his chances of qualifying for the Champions League seriously diminishing. Rennes was unable to remobilize on Tuesday at the Vélodrome stadium. Led by OM from the 2nd minute and beaten 3-0, they left the Coupe de France at the round of 16 stage. 

Lens records the return from suspension of Thauvin (5 goals in L1) compared to the round of 16 of the Coupe de France and can also count on its starting defender Baidoo (axial), recovered from an injury. The coach must, however, continue to build his group without the long-term absentees Gradit, Gurtner and Chavez. Recruits Masuaku (full-back, loan from Sunderland), Saint-Maximin (winger, ex Club America) and Haidara (midfielder, ex Leipzig) should be on deck. These three experienced players crossed paths with Machado (Nantes), Ojediran (Colorado) and Guilavogui (Real Salt Lake), who were entrusted with supporting roles. Decisive against Le Havre, Udol (6 assists in L1) knows how to put his attackers in orbit and remains one of the best Lensois of the season. Stade Rennais can count on its captain Rongier (midfielder), back on his feet, and his central defender Jacquet, who signed up at the start of the week with Liverpool but will finish the season with the Rouge et Noir.

Absent this week in the Coupe de France, the former Lensois Frankowski (right piston) and the important midfielder Cissé are uncertain for the trip to the Bollaert stadium, as is the midfielder Kamara (substitute), who was injured in Marseille. This winter, the club strengthened itself in the offensive sector with Szymanski (ex Fenerbahçe), Nordin (on loan from Mainz) and Zabiri (ex Famalicão). The last two can debut this Saturday. The downgraded midfielder Seko Fofana (loaned at Porto) and the promising striker Meïté, sold to Al-Hilal for 30 million euros, fueled the sense of departures.