RC Lens vs. Lille OSC 9/18/21 Ligue 1 Soccer Pick, Odds, and Prediction

RC Lens is hosting Lille OSC at Stade Bollaert-Delelis in round 6 of the French Ligue 1. Lens is on a nice roll, and they are undefeated in their last 9 games while winning 2 of their 5 Ligue 1 games. Lille is also one of the struggling teams, and they have won only 1 of their last 6 games.

Lens has been in great goalscoring form so far this season, and they have scored 10 goals in total, and the even better news is they have scored in every game so far. Defensively, Lens is not doing so well, but they were able to keep one clean sheet so far. Lens was playing against Bordeaux on the road last week, and they have had a great game. Lens has had 45% of ball possession, 5 shots on goal, 7 corner kicks, 5 big chances created, and 81% of the correct passes. After leading 0-2 at halftime, Lens has allowed Bordeaux to tie the score. Luckily for Lens, they were awarded a penalty kick in the 96^th minute, and they scored. Lens has won this game 2-3. With 9 points, Lens is in 5^th place, and that is a nice surprise. Fofana is the leading goalscorer for Lens with 3 goals so far. Clauss and Frankowski have added 2 assists each. Jean and Varane are both injured for Lens at the moment. I know that Lens is doing well right now, but we will see how long they can keep this up because as soon as their offense stops producing chances, they will start losing games.

After winning the title last season, everyone expected Lille to just glide into this season and win games, me included, but exactly the opposite has happened. Lille is struggling on both ends at the start of this season, and they have won only 1 Ligue 1 game so far. In their Champions League game against Wolfsburg earlier this week, Lille was the better team with 53% of ball possession, 4 shots on goal, 5 corner kicks, 2 big chances created, and 82% of the correct passes. Despite being the dominant team, Lille couldn’t score a goal, and the final score was 0-0. With only 5 points, 7 scored goals, and 11 conceded goals, Lille is now in 13^th place, and I’m afraid the title race is over for them. Yilmaz has scored 3 goals for Lille so far, but that is simply not enough for this team. Sanches and Bamba are both injured, while Weah is still questionable. Lille still has a chance to reach the Champions League spot, but unless they improve their form greatly and soon, that will not be happening, which is a massive disappointment.

Lens hasn’t won any of their last 3 games against Lille, but they are in much better form than Lille. Lens hasn’t won any of their last 5 home games, while Lille hasn’t won any of their last 6 games on the road. Lille could definitely step up in this game, but so could Lens. I’m taking the over in this one.