This Saturday, January 18, Paris Saint-Germain (1st) take on Lens (7th) at Stade Bollaert (kick-off 5pm, broadcast on beIN SPORTS in France) as part of Matchday 18 of Ligue 1 2024-2025. And as before every match, here’s a presentation of the Parisians’ opponents.
The Lens situation –
After a moment of excitement, Lens was a bit of a winner last season. Instead of playing the title race to the end, they qualified for the Europa League Conference play-off. There’s been a change this summer, with coach Franck Haise leaving for a new challenge in Nice, while Will Still has arrived from Reims.
The new adventure got off to an interesting start, with the idea of the game remaining relatively similar, but there were a few missteps, including the European elimination against Panathinaikos and a lack of goals. Nonetheless, RCL are 7th in Ligue 1 and still in the race for Europe.
The 2024 summer mercato –
Source: Transfermarkt.
Departures:
Arrivals:
The winter mercato 2024-2025 –
Source: Transfermarkt.
Departures :
Arrivals :
Key statistics –
This season, Lens has the 12th-best attack in the league with 21 goals scored (first-placed PSG are on 46, and last-placed Le Havre are on 13), and is among the 2nd-best defenders with 16 goals conceded (first-placed PSG are on 15, and last-placed Montpellier are on 42).
Lens’ top scorer is Mbala Nzola (28-year-old striker), who is 18th in the league with 4 goals (Ligue 1’s top scorer is Jonathan David with 11). Ruben Aguilar (31-year-old right-back) is Lens’ top passer with 1 assist, ranking 57th in Ligue 1 (Dilane Bakwa is first with 6 assists).
Lens’ last 5 matches –
Only Lens possession is shown and Lens shots are put first (when data is available).
08/12/2024 (Ligue 1) – Lens/Montpellier: 2-0. In 4-2-3-1. 54% possession. 17 shots including 3 on target vs. 7 shots (4 on target).
12/14/2024 (Ligue 1) – Auxerre/Lens : 2-2. In 4-2-3-1. 61% possession. 16 shots including 5 on target vs. 10 shots (3 on target).
22/12/2024 (Coupe de France) – Lens/PSG: 1-1 (3-4 on aggregate). 5-3-2 formation. 68% possession. 17 shots including 6 on target vs. 11 shots (4 on target).
05/01/2025 (Ligue 1) – Lens (down to 10 at the 61st minute, 0-0) /Toulouse: 0-1. In 4-2-3-1. 66% possession. 14 shots including 1 on target vs. 8 shots (4 on target).
12/01/2025 (Ligue 1) – Le Havre/Lens : 1-2. In 4-2-3-1. 70% possession. 25 shots, including 7 on target, against 8 shots (4 on target).
The squad and probable line-up.
Absents – Satriano, Labeau-Lascary, Chavez, Petric (blessure), Danso (suspension)
L’Equipe (3-4-1-2) –
Koyalipou – Sotoca
Fulgini
Machado – Diouf – Thomasson – Frankowski
Medina – Sarr – Gradit
Koffi.
Lens’ style of play.
In keeping with Will Still’s usual style, Lens’ idea – which was already close under Franck Haise – is to play high and press hard, in order to gain possession and create chances without being too dangerous. This last point works, as Lens is very solid. But we’re lacking in efficiency, and that’s costing us dearly.
As we saw with the 1-0 league win on November 2 and the 1-1 draw in the French Cup Round of 32 on December 22, nothing is going to be easy.
