Ligue 1, Sunday, 15.09.2024 at 20:45
What do these two French flagship clubs with a long tradition have in common? The 2024/25 European Cup season will take place without them. Olympique weren’t even allowed to play in the qualifiers, that’s how bad their ranking was last year!
Now that the international break is over, the Ligue 1 soccer calendar wants the two clubs to meet. I have identified an interim 1-0 lead for RCL as a statistically very hot Lens Lyon tip
Two teams separated by just two points last season meet on matchday 4. RC Lens are already four points ahead of Olympique Lyon and have made a really strong start.
Under their new manager Will Still, the “Racing Club ” have collected seven points in their first three league games (2 wins, 1 draw).
However, their elimination from the Conference League against Panathinaikos, despite taking a 2:1 lead after the first leg, may have left a bitter taste in the mouth.
Despite an expansion of the field of participants in all three UEFA international club competitions, the 2024/25 European Cup season is already over prematurely for RCL.
Interestingly, the northern French side’s matches have produced the fewest goals in the league so far, but despite the mostly defensive nature of the game, RC supporters should not be complaining about a lack of success.
Lens have always shown their best side at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in 2024/25 and have been unbeaten here for five games in a row (three wins, two draws).
The last Ligue home game in this stadium against their upcoming opponents? An entertaining 3:2 for the hosts, which for once was rich in goals
Lyon, on the other hand, are currently offering the neutral spectator far more spectacle, at least in terms of scoring goals.
A whopping 12 goals were scored in their first three Ligue 1 games. Seven of them came in the thrilling 4:3 win against Strasbourg alone, when “Les Gones” turned a 3:1 deficit into a lead within twelve minutes.
The win was extremely important for coach Pierre Sage after his team had gone goalless in their first two games against Rennes and Monaco and failed to pick up a point. That should have quelled some of the criticism, for now
The Lyonnais’ defense remains the coach’s problem child. They have already conceded eight goals this season, which shows that there is an urgent need for improvement.
However, Lens are certainly not the ideal opponents for them to demonstrate their ability to play to nil.
Lyon lost both head-to-head duels from the previous season, conceding three goals in each. As a result, they have not won at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis since 2015 (2 draws, 2 defeats)
As a result, I’m leaning towards a Lens Lyon betting tip on my betting slip, which should appeal more to fans of the hosts.
I would prefer a double chance 1X bet, but the odds traded in this context, even in the best betting apps, barely exceed 1.20.
A home win? In this regard, the odds are around the slightly higher value of 1.80, but this is not high enough for me. As well as Olympique presented themselves against Strasbourg, I would have hoped for a somewhat more generous RCL victory odds for Sunday evening
Let’s take a look at some exciting betting scenarios for the upcoming clash between Lens and Lyon, which excite me much more than a simple 1X2 bet.
Did you know, for example, that Lyon have conceded the first goal of the game in each of their last four matches?
That definitely speaks in favor of an early lead for the Lens players, who are already strong at home, and the 1:0 odds for the RCL of currently 1.62 are certainly right!
But the program of various betting providers without tax has more great betting opportunities in store for you:
Because even if you’re not quite sure whether Lens will actually score the 1:0, you should remember: The Northern French have scored at least once in 15 out of 16 home games.
With odds of 1.24 that Lens will score a goal in this game too – no matter when – you’re on the safe side if you prefer a more defensive bet
Conclusion: In my Lens Lyon prediction, I expect the hosts to get off to a great start.
Lens have already proven this season that they can build pressure early and I trust them to score the first goal within the first 15 minutes.
After that, however, the game remains open and Lyon could actually come back through their individual class at the back.
My tip: RCL scores the 1:0