Lens vs Lille Predictions

• Three of Lille’s first four Ligue 1 matches of the campaign have produced goals at both ends.
• BTTS has also landed in two of Lens’ last three fixtures in the division.
• Lille are unbeaten in six previous meetings with Lens.

Goals expected at both ends in Lens

Lens left Paris with nothing last weekend following a 2-0 reverse at PSG, though they competed well in the capital and actually outperformed the champions for expected goals (1.50 – 1.10) in their loss.

Summer signings Florian Thauvin and Odsonne Edouard clocked six shots between them against PSG, while youngster Rayan Fofana registered three attempts off the bench in the second half, showcasing the depth of attacking talent that Lens now possess.

Indeed, Lens rank third in Ligue 1 so far this term for total xG manufactured (7.80), while only Lille and Brest have racked up more shots than Lens (63) since the start of the new French campaign.

Lens scored three times in their last home assignment against the aforementioned Brest just before the international break, but conceded a consolation. In fact, they have yet to secure their first clean sheet of the season.

Lille, who rank first in Ligue 1 for both expected goals (10.1) and for average shots per 90 minutes (16.50), head to Lens on the back of a three-game winning burst and they maintained their streak in a dramatic 2-1 win over Toulouse last weekend, netting twice after the 90^th minute.

Les Dogues hit seven goals in one sitting at Lorient (7-1) in their last away test, with five different goal-scorers chipping in and the visitors have more than enough firepower to get behind the Lens defence on Saturday.

With both Lens and Lille playing some good attacking football in the campaign’s opening exchanges, a bet on both teams to score at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis is favoured, though Lille are backed to extend their winning run with a 2-1 victory in the correct score stakes.

Lille did the double over Lens last season and are unbeaten in six previous iterations of this fixture overall, so back the division’s top scorers (13) to collect maximum points.