Lens vs PSG: Can PSG start Ligue 1 season with a win in Lens?
Paris Saint-Germain start their Ligue 1 season with a trip to promoted Lens. Champions League runners-up Paris Saint-Germain return to Ligue 1 action on Thursday evening as they square off against Lens at Stade Bollaert-Delelis.
After earning promotion from the second tier, the home side suffered a 2-1 defeat at Nice in their opening fixture of the season.
PSG had a memorable season as they won the treble and also reached the Champions League final. When PSG take to the pitch on Thursday, just over two-and-a-half weeks would have passed since they suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.
Because PSG’s season ended so late this will be their first game of the new season.
The clubs have not played at this ground since 2014 when PSG won 3-1 in Lens and 4-1 in Paris.
Reason for Lens vs. PSG predictions:
- Lens have failed to win their last nine meetings with PSG.
- The hosts lost six of their last seven Ligue 1 games.
- PSG have won 10 of their last 12 away trips in the league.
- The visitors have scored in 32 straight away trips.
- Lens have lost by 2+ goals in 4 of their last 5 matches against PSG.
- PSG have won 13 of their last 15 Ligue 1 matches, scoring 16 goals in their last 4.
- PSG have scored 7 goals in their last two meetings with Lens.
- 5 of the last seven games has seen both teams to score.
In 14 previous encounters between the two sides, Paris Saint-Germain hold the clear advantage. They have won eight games, lost one and drawn five.
The French champions kick off their Ligue 1 campaign without their star front four but they are still favoured for this visit to Lens.
Lens have failed to win any of their last nine Ligue 1 matches against PSG, after avoiding defeat in the previous 11. Lens have also failed to win of their last seven home matches against PSG in Ligue 1, so the visitors should be confident.
We still expect a comfortable win for the champions. Although Lens will be eager to impress, a lack of competitive game time is not ideal ahead of facing the champions.
Our prediction: PSG (Full Time Result) @ 1.72
