Preview: Lyon vs. Lens - prediction, team news, lineups

High-flying Lens travel south to face Lyon at the Groupama Stadium on Saturday evening in the third game of this weekend's Ligue 1 action.

The hosts have been improving recently but come into the game on the back of a loss, whilst the visitors kept up their hot-streak last time out and remain second in the table.

Match preview

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Lyon's form has been fairly hit and miss so far this campaign. They started the season slowly with just two points from their first three games, but appeared to be on the up coming into their match with Nice last weekend - an away game at Paris Saint-Germain their only defeat in the last eight and having just beaten Monaco 2-0.

Things were still looking rosy 80 minutes into the game, after Karl Toko Ekambi had continued his strong form in front of goal to put them ahead after 35 minutes and Houssem Aouar then doubled their lead in the 68th minute.

By the final whistle, however, thing looked very different - substitute Youcef Atal sent an unstoppable shot high into the roof of the net in the 81st minute, before Tino Kadewere was sent off for a rash challenge four minutes later, and Nice completed a remarkable turnaround with an 89th-minute penalty and a 91st-minute winner from Evann Guessand.

That will be a tough result to take and will likely have crushed the confidence that Peter Bosz's side had been building up in recent weeks.

The manager will also have to be aware of the fact that his side's discipline record is fast becoming a big issue - Kadewere's dismissal makes it four red cards in the space of four games, with Malo Gusto having seen red against Sparta Prague in the Europa League, Anthony Lopes against Saint-Etienne and Emerson Palmieri in the game with Lorient.

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Lens have no such worries and, in fact, have very few worries at all as they continue to overperform.

Many fans would have been happy to see the team simply consolidate themselves as a top-half regular this season, after their impressive seventh-placed finish in Ligue 1 last term on their return to the top flight.

They have gone far beyond that, though, having amassed 21 points in their first 11 games to sit behind only the dominant PSG in the standings.

Their loss to Montpellier proved to be just a blip as Franck Haise's men bounced back in style with a comfortable 4-1 victory over struggling Metz last weekend, Wesley Said grabbing a first-half brace and the points being wrapped up in the final 10 minutes by the impressively-named duo of Ignatius Ganago and Przemyslaw Frankowski.

Whilst many of their competitors for the top four spots are wrapped up in European competition, Lens are able to focus solely on their league campaign, and it is showing with consistent performances and 20 goals scored already.

Team News

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Kadewere is suspended for Lyon after the aforementioned red card, which should see former Liverpool man Xherdan Shaqiri restored to the right wing, forming a front four with Toko Ekambi, Aouar and Lucas Paqueta.

Bosz will also be without four players through injury - Islam Slimani, Moussa Dembele, Lenny Pintor and Jeff Reine-Adelaide are all due to return in November.

Defender Massadio Haidara is the only casualty for Lens as he remains out with a groin injury.

That means Haise has almost a full squad to choose from but, considering their strong form and 4-1 win last weekend, there is a very slim chance of the starting XI changing particularly, meaning the team should line up in their manager's favoured 3-4-1-2 setup.

Lyon possible starting lineup:
Lopes; Dubois, Boateng, Denayer, Emerson; Caqueret, Guimaraes; Shaqiri, Paqueta, Aouar; Ekambi

Lens possible starting lineup:
Leca; Gradit, Danso, Medina; Clauss, Doucoure, Fofana, Frankowski; Said; Kalimuendo, Sotoca

We say: Lyon 2-2 Lens

This is a tough game to call. Lyon will be determined to bounce back from such a galling defeat and have dealt with far more important suspensions than Kadewere.

They also probably have the stronger side on paper, but Lens are full of confidence right now and will go toe to toe with anyone. All things considered, we are backing an entertaining draw.

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