Ligue 1 Round 18 sees an exciting match between RC Lens and leaders Paris Saint-Germain. Both teams are coming with different strengths, contrasting forms, and also some intriguing storylines for this matchup. Will Goduine Koyalipou's signing help Lens to halt PSG's unbeaten run, or will Luis Enrique's dominant side continue their title charge? Let's get into the preview, team forms, and predictions for the game.
Claim Your Welcome BonusRC Lens
RC Lens are 7th in the table, which says a lot about their indifferent season under head coach Will Still. Recent form has been solid with a 2-1 victory over Le Havre showcasing some fighting spirit. Goduine Koyalipou, the January signing from CSKA Sofia, wasted no time in opening his account. He, along with Deiver Machado, is the injection of energy that Lens' attack has been in dire need of.
But the Sang et Or have struggled for consistency at home, winning only two of their last five games. Defensive lapses remain a worry, as evidenced by their run of conceding in four consecutive matches. Lens will need a disciplined performance to record a positive result with PSG's firepower coming to Stade Bollaert-Delelis.
Paris Saint Germain
PSG have had a phenomenal season under Luis Enrique, going unbeaten in 17 league games with 13 wins and 4 draws to sail through at the top of the table. Also, their recent 4-2 win against Espaly in the Coupe de France by Warren Zaire-Emery, Desire Doue, Bradley Barcola, and Gonçalo Ramos cemented the depth and attack options of the team.
Away from the Parc des Princes, PSG have been pretty solid, with three wins from their last five outings. They are on a three-game winning streak across all competitions and have struck first in five of their last seven matches. The team has not missed a step since the departure of Neymar earlier this campaign, especially with the likes of Ramos and Zaire-Emery in form. Lens's defense could be a significant weakness for the league leaders to exploit.
Head to Head
PSG lead the H2H battle by a landslide. In 20 meetings, PSG recorded 11 wins, Lens had just 2 wins and 7 matches ended as a draw.
Both teams have played nine entertaining matches with both sides scoring in seven of those matches. PSG has been very dominant of late, unbeaten in the last five matches, finding the back of the net nine times in the process. They have also tended to start strong and have won the first half in four of their last five clashes.
History of Head-to-Heads
Expert Betting Tips
Both Teams to Score @ 1.6 Odds on Bet365:
Both teams to score here is very likely as Lens scored in their last three outings while PSG's attack is in fine fettle.
Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.6 Odds on Betway:
Over three goals have been seen in five of PSG's last five Ligue 1 matches, and given Lens' struggles in defense, this is a high-probability bet.
PSG to Win & Over 1.5 Goals @ 1.99 Odds on 1xbet:
With PSG's current form and Lens' inconsistent home record, this is a confident pick.