Midweek, PSG wasted no time and increased their lead at the top of Ligue 1 by defeating Strasbourg 2-1. The thing is that the Parisians lost one of their best players due to a red card. On the other hand, Lens failed to defeat Nice and now are seven points behind Kylian Mbappe and Co.
Did I mention that Blood and Gold are in second place? Well, they are, making this a crucial match for both sides and a must-watch game for all soccer betting enthusiasts. The visitors come in as the favorites at +115.
Let’s check the latest Ligue 1 odds, stats, injury reports, and Ligue 1 lines for Lens vs PSG. We’ve plenty of Ligue 1 betting odds for you to consider.
Lens: Impressive Campaign
Lens are having a great season. So far, the Blood and Gold have lost only one game, 1-0 to Lille. Since then, they own a 5-1-0 record with nine goals for and only three against, finishing with a clean sheet in three of those games.
Most recently, they drew 0-0 to Nice. They won possession with 59 percent but weren’t effective in front of goal. The Blood and Gold also drew against Nantes (0-0), Rems (1-1) and Ajaccio (0-0).
As you can see, scoring against Lens isn’t easy. In fact, they’ve allowed only 10 goals, sharing the best defensive record in the league with PSG. On the other hand, the Blood and Gold have scored 26 goals, 1.6 per game. Individually, you should keep an eye on Lois Openda, the team’s top scorer with seven goals.
The home side is offering a +225 price in the sportsbook to win straight up. You won’t find a more tempting deal and here’s why: The Blood and Gold remain undefeated when playing at home, winning each of their matches (8-0-0). That’s something not even PSG have done.
PSG: No Neymar, No Messi
Midweek, PSG defeated Strasbourg thanks to Kylian Mbappe, who scored from the penalty spot in stoppage time. The Parisians suffered more than expected after the 62nd minute, in which Neymar was sent off.
Now, the Parisians will face one of the most important matches of the Ligue 1 season without Neymar and Lionel Messi, who’s still in Argentina celebrating the 2022 World Cup victory.
“The absence of Neymar Jr and Leo Messi is significant. We know how important they are; our attacking trio is elite-level. We’ve worked with the players and the coaching staff to find the best attacking setup possible, and I’ve got a pretty clear idea of what I’m going to ask of my squad,” said manager Christophe Galtier during a press conference.
The good news for Galtier and PSG’s fans is that the squad has talent to spare. Pablo Sarabia and Carlos Soler are set to get some minutes. Same for Hugo Ekitike, who’s only 20 years old but already scored this season.
The Parisians are 7-1-0 when playing on the road. Their only draw was against Reims (0-0).
Lens vs PSG Head-to-Head
- Previous Matches: 78
- Lens Victories: 21(102 goals)
- PSG Victories: 38 (139 goals)
- Draws: 19
Last season, PSG couldn’t fulfill their role as betting online favorites against Lens. First, they drew 1-1 at Stade Bollaert-Delelis. Georginio Wijnaldum saved the day with a goal in the 90th minute. Later, at Parc des Princes, Corentin Jean saved the day for Lens with a goal in the 88th minute. The game also finished 1-1.
The Parisians own a 4-5-1 record in the last 10 meetings with the Blood and Gold. During that span, the total went under seven times. In other words, we’re talking about an even series.
Lens vs PSG Match Information
- Match: Lens vs PSG
- Date: Sunday, Jan. 1
- Time: 2:45 p.m. ET
- Location: Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens
- Lens vs PSG Live Stream: fubo.tv
Lens vs PSG Picks & Prediction
If you were looking for an underdog to include in your soccer picks, look no further. No, I’m not saying Lens will pull off the stunner, but the Blood and Gold will get a point – and in this case, the draw (+265) is offering a better reward than a victory from the home side. Mbappe is a great player, but the chemistry with Sarabia and Soler isn’t the same as with Neymar and Messi, and they’ll face a well-balanced defensive unit.
PSG’s defense is good, but one of the main reasons is because opponents don’t attack much. On the other hand, Lens’ defense has plenty of work week in and week out.
