Lens vs Lyon: A Tactical Battle Between Two Top-Tier Teams
Aiming to keep their unbeaten record at the start of the new term intact, Lens will welcome struggling Lyon to Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Sunday night in Ligue 1.
Lens are currently occupying fifth position in the top-flight standings, level on points with second-placed Marseille and two points behind pacesetters Paris Saint-Germain, who are once again the clear favourites to reclaim the French crown in May. Les Gones, on the other hand, are sitting in 14th position after collecting three points from their opening three matches.
Lens' Unbeaten Start
After back-to-back victories in Ligue 1 against relegation favourites Angers and Champions League-bound Brest to commence their 2024-25 schedule domestically, Lens dropped their maiden points of the top-tier campaign last time out, sharing the spoils with Monaco at Stade Louis-II on September 1.
Following a goalless first 80 minutes, the contest between Monaco and Les Sang et Or burst into life, with a 94th-minute equaliser from substitute Przemyslaw Frankowski saving the day for the visitors after Switzerland international Denis Zakaria had opened the scoring for the hosts 10 minutes earlier.
Lyon's Dramatic Comeback Win
Trailing 3-1 after 58 minutes, Lyon were hurtling towards a third straight defeat of the season at Groupama Stadium against Strasbourg last time out, but the hosts were able to produce a magnificent turnaround, collecting all three points from the Friday night thriller.
Former Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion man Ainsley Maitland-Niles commenced the comeback with a strike in the 61st minute, before a brilliant brace from Turkish Super Lig-linked Gift Orban secured maximum points, to the despair of the travelling support of Le Racing.
The Tactical Battle
A clash between two clubs aiming high up the table, between two thinkers and tacticians known for their ball-playing sides: Lens vs Lyon looks to be an early-season cracker. Lens manager Will Still expects a big test for the Sang & Or, who are still currently unbeaten since the start of the season. “It’s going to be a very big game. On an individual level, Lyon have some pretty impressive talent. We’re getting ready to face the best version of Lyon, who have had a fairly complicated start to the season (2 defeats in the first 2 games) but that’s to be expected when you bring in several new players.”
“Against Strasbourg (4-3), Lyon showed good things in a tactical system different from previous matches. We’re expecting a great Sunday evening encounter at Bollaert-Delelis.”
Lyon's Ambitions
In a week in which Lyon owner John Textor laid out in clear terms that OL should be competing at the top of the table this season, manager Pierre Sage highlighted the need to take each game as it comes in his pre-match press conference. “Anything is possible as long as you play,” said Sage in Friday’s presser at Lyon’s training ground. “We have to play our games and we have to win them. What’s important for us now is to confirm our victory over Strasbourg with a good performance against Lens, and that’s a big challenge.”
“After that, we have a big game at home where we’ll be making our debut in the Europa League. We’ve got a good month of September to see if we’re on track with our objectives, and we’ll be increasingly ambitious.”
Key Players
Lens will be without summer arrival Anass Zaroury, who is set to be sidelined until the end of the month after suffering a sprained ankle during the draw at Monaco last time out. Les Sang et Or’s options on the flanks are further restricted by the absence of Jimmy Cabot, who is battling back from a knee injury sustained in August.
Lyon are battling on without the services of World Cup winner Nicolas Tagliafico, with the Argentinian out because of a niggling calf injury. After a move to Fulham failed to go through last month, Ernest Nuamah remains in the Lyon medical room due to a thigh injury picked up during the loss to Monaco.
Lens's Predicted Starting Lineup:
Brice Samba; Facundo Medina, Abdukodir Khusanov, Jonathan Gradit; Deiver Machado, Andy Diouf, Adrien Thomasson, Przemyslaw Frankowski; Wesley Said, David Pereira da Costa, Florian Sotoca.
Lyon's Predicted Starting Lineup:
Conclusion: A Tight and Tense Encounter
This match looks to be a very tense affair, with two teams at different stages of their seasons. Lens, with their unbeaten record, will be looking to continue their impressive start to the campaign, while Lyon will be desperate to build on their first win of the season. The key to the match could be the midfield battle, as both teams have some very talented players in that area of the pitch. With both sides looking to be strong defensively, this match could be very tight and potentially go down to the wire.
The Verdict: A Tight Battle With Lens Holding the Edge
After winning back-to-back home games against sides competing in Europe this season last month, Lens should be confident of recording another positive result at Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Sunday night. Lyon struggled massively on the road against Rennes, and it could be a similar story here for Les Gones, who have been worryingly inconsistent so far this season.
