Predictions
Top Leagues
Jan 29, 2025
The advance of the twentieth day of Ligue 1 is a match between almost opposite poles geographically and in the standings. Montpellier, which plays in the far south of France and is second to last in the standings, hosts Lens, which is more than 800 km to the north and, to get back to the footballing context, fifteen points above, on the edge of the European zone. If for the yellow and reds this position is in line with that of last year (last season Lens finished exactly in seventh place) for Montpellier, the second to last place is penalizing compared to the standard of the blue and orange who, however, greet this position in the standings with a smile because until two days ago, the team was very last. Then, the two consecutive victories against Monaco and Toulouse, have shaken Gasset's boys who now do not want to stop but who will have to deal on Friday with a Lens, also globally on the rise (if we exclude the predictable defeat against PSG). These are two teams that, some during the season (Montpellier) and some at the beginning of the season (Lens) have changed technical management, therefore, some moments of adjustment were to be expected. Now, however, in this short positive period for both, the concrete possibility is to accelerate the climb towards their respective objectives: safety for the home team, European qualification for the guests.
The data from which we must start to examine Montpellier's moment is precisely that of the current moment: the two 2-1 victories against Monaco and Toulouse which bring the total successes in Ligue 1 to 4 out of the 19 matches played so far.
The big handicap of Gasset's team in the championship is the goals conceded: 44 in total for an average of 2.32 per match. Compared to last season, when Michel der Zakarian was on the bench, despite the last two successes, Montpellier has 4 points less and, to return to the goals conceded, has even conceded 21 more!
Perhaps not exciting and far from the maximum of the team's possibilities, the latest snapshot of the season for Lens, however, appears positive: in the last 8 seasonal matches, there are 4 successes, 2 draws and 2 defeats but, one defeat and one draw had PSG as their opponent.
In this Ligue 1 season, so far, the yellow and reds have won 8 times, drawn 6 and lost 5. A fact that can encourage Alex Still's team is that in the last 10 away league games, Lens lost only 1 time (against the usual Paris Saint Germain!).
The top scorer of the championship and in a positive moment is the former Fiorentina and Spezia player, M'Bala Nzola with 5 goals scored in Ligue 1.
The positive trend of both teams makes us imagine a proactive and entertaining match. The data of goals conceded by Montpellier is also difficult to ignore, just as the double of successes of the blue-orange against Monaco and Toulouse cannot be underestimated. Montpellier and Lens both have the possibility of aiming for success, therefore we follow the prediction of the BetMines algorithm which more easily predicts a match with both teams scoring.
Montpellier (3-4-1-2): Lecomte; Kouyate, Omeragic, Sagnan; Tchato, Nzingoula, Chotard, Sylla; Savanier; Tamari, Khazri. Coach: Gasset
Lens (5-3-2): Ryan; Frankowski, Gradit, Sarr, Medina, Fulgini; Sotoca, El Aynaoui, Thomasson; Nzola, Koualipou. Coach: Still
This section provides average statistics and percentages on the main markets for the last 10 matches of both teams
Montpellier
Lens
Under
Over
Under
Over
0.5
0
10
0
10
1.5
1
9
2
8
2.5
4
6
7
3
3.5
6
4
9
1
4.5
10
0
10
0