Lens vs. Reims Prediction, Match Preview, and Betting Tips, 11 April 2025

As Ligue 1 moves into its 29th round, Lens is set to host Reims at Stade Bollaert-Delelis on 11 April 2025, with kick-off at 19:45. Lens currently sits in 9th position with 42 points, aiming to inch closer to the European spots. In contrast, Reims is struggling in 16th place with just 26 points, desperately hoping to avoid relegation.

Lens has demonstrated solid home form, emerging as favourites with bookmaker odds of 1.60. They’ve kept three clean sheets in their last five games and aim to capitalize on Reims’ poor away record. Coach Will Still will look to his top scorer M’Bala Nzola and their strong defensive unit led by Mathew Ryan.

Reims, coached by Samba Diawara, face an uphill battle. Injuries and suspensions weaken their defence, with key players like Keito Nakamura expected to step up. They’ve yet to secure an away win since November of last year, highlighting their vulnerability on the road.

Given Lens’ favourable form and historical success against Reims, the match tip here is for Lens to take an early lead and win the first half. Expect a tight contest, with Lens looking to keep a clean sheet and make a strong push for international spots.

Lens vs Reims Prediction & Betting tip

Based on current form and historical records, we recommend betting on Lens to win the first half. Lens has been dominant at home and currently holds better form compared to Reims.

Lens vs Reims Prediction
Betting tip	Odds
Lens to win 1st half	1.60

• Lens has a strong home performance, supported by their recent clean sheets.
• Reims struggle on the road, with numerous defensive injuries impacting their form.
• Historically, Lens has performed better against Reims, particularly in home fixtures.

Given these factors, betting on Lens to take an early lead is a logical choice.

Lens vs Reims Odds

When it comes to placing your bets, the odds clearly favour Lens to clinch a victory at home.

Lens vs Reims Betting Odds
Bet	Odds
Lens	1.60
Draw	3.94
Reims	5.45

Lens are the bookmakers’ favourites with odds of 1.60 due to their strong home performance and recent form.
Reims, on the other hand, are seen as the underdogs with odds of 5.45, likely due to their struggles away from home and defensive injuries.
For those considering a draw, the odds stand at 3.94, indicating it’s a less probable outcome.

Lens Team Analysis

Lens Recent Performance

• Recent Form: Lens has displayed fairly strong form in their last five matches, registering three wins and two losses.
• Recent Performances:
• Lens vs Saint-Etienne: 1 – 0 (Win) | 2025-04-06 | Ligue 1
• Lille vs Lens: 1 – 0 (Loss) | 2025-03-30 | Ligue 1
• Lens vs Rennes: 1 – 0 (Win) | 2025-03-15 | Ligue 1
• Marseille vs Lens: 0 – 1 (Win) | 2025-03-08 | Ligue 1
• Lens vs Le Havre: 3 – 4 (Loss) | 2025-03-01 | Ligue 1

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Home team	Away team	Date	Competition	Result
Lens	Saint-Etienne	2025-04-06	Ligue 1	1-0 (Win)
Lille	Lens	2025-03-30	Ligue 1	1-0 (Loss)
Lens	Rennes	2025-03-15	Ligue 1	1-0 (Win)
Marseille	Lens	2025-03-08	Ligue 1	0-1 (Win)
Lens	Le Havre	2025-03-01	Ligue 1	3-4 (Loss)

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Lens has managed to keep three clean sheets in their last five games, making their defense a notably robust aspect of their play. They have also averaged 1.20 goals scored per match in this period. With a respectable defensive record and a steady goal-scoring pattern, Lens looks poised to continue their solid performance as they aim for a European competition spot.

Lens Key Players

Lens’s performance this season has been bolstered by several key players who will once again be pivotal against Reims. One player to watch is M’Bala Nzola, Lens’s top scorer with 6 goals. His knack for finding the back of the net will be crucial, especially given Reims’ shaky defensive record.

Another standout is Malang Sarr, who has been a rock in defense, contributing to Lens’s three clean sheets in their last five games. Sarr’s matchup against Reims’s strikers, particularly Keito Nakamura, will be a key battle.

Florian Sotoca and Wesley Saïd add creativity and firepower upfront, expected to exploit Reims’s defensive vulnerabilities.

Expected lineup for Lens:

• Goalkeeper: Mathew Ryan
• Defenders: Juma Bah, Malang Sarr, Facundo Medina
• Midfielders: Ruben Aguilar, Andy Diouf, Nampalys Mendy, Deiver Machado
• Attacking Midfielders: Florian Sotoca, Adrien Thomasson
• Forward: Wesley Saïd

Lens Suspensions & Injuries

Lens are dealing with several injuries and a key suspension that could impact their performance against Reims.
Injuries:

Player	Injury	Expected return
Martin Satriano	Cruciate ligament injury	Early June 2025
Rémy Labeau Lascary	Cruciate ligament injury	Out for season
Jhoanner Chávez	Ankle injury	Mid April 2025
Denis Petric	Back injury	Mid April 2025
Jonathan Gradit	Head injury	A few weeks
Jeremy Agbonifo	Illness	About 1-2 weeks

Suspensions:

Player	Suspension	Expected return
Neil El Aynaoui	Yellow cards	1 match remaining

With Neil El Aynaoui suspended, Lens will miss his presence in midfield. Injuries to key players like Martin Satriano and Rémy Labeau Lascary could stretch the squad depth, but returnees like Denis Petric and Jhoanner Chávez will provide some much-needed reinforcement soon.

Lens Tactics and Formation

Lens Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 3-4-2-1
• Key Forward: Wesley Saïd
• Midfield Setup: Right midfielder – Ruben Aguilar, Right central midfielder – Andy Diouf, Left central midfielder – Nampalys Mendy, Left midfielder – Deiver Machado
• Defensive Setup: Right center back – Juma Bah, Central back – Malang Sarr, Left center back – Facundo Medina

Lens will likely stick to their favored 3-4-2-1 setup, which has brought them success in several key matches this season.

Their strategy revolves around a solid defensive core that allows only an average of 1.1 goals per game.

The midfield is dynamic, with players like Ruben Aguilar and Andy Diouf providing both defensive cover and an attacking threat.

Expect them to press high up the pitch and make use of quick transitions to catch Reims on the break.

Reims Team Analysis

Recent Performance:

Reims have experienced a mixed bag of results recently, showing some promise but also struggling with consistency. They have secured two wins, one draw, and two losses in their last five encounters, demonstrating a solid attacking effort but also room for defensive improvement. The team has managed to score an average of 1.00 goals per game in their last five outings, while keeping only one clean sheet.

Home team	Away team	Date	Competition	Result
Reims	Strasbourg	2025-04-06	Ligue 1	0-1 (Loss)
Cannes	Reims	2025-04-02	Coupe de France	1-2 (Win)
Reims	Marseille	2025-03-29	Ligue 1	3-1 (Win)
Brest	Reims	2025-03-16	Ligue 1	0-0 (Draw)
Reims	Auxerre	2025-03-09	Ligue 1	0-2 (Loss)

Team Analysis

Despite their lower position in the standings, Reims have shown the potential to cause upsets against bigger teams. However, they’ll need to tighten up defensively, as they have been conceding an average of 1.5 goals per match this season.
With key absences like Cédric Kipré due to suspension and Joseph Okumu sidelined with a shoulder injury, their backline will be under pressure. Head coach Samba Diawara will be looking for a well-rounded team performance to navigate these challenges successfully.

Reims Key Players

Reims will be relying heavily on their top scorer, Keito Nakamura, who has netted 9 goals this season. His attacking prowess will be key to unlocking Lens’ sturdy defense, which has kept three clean sheets in their last five matches.
The midfield engine, Amadou Koné, along with Valentin Atangana Edoa, will need to dominate the center of the park to keep Reims in the game. Additionally, the pace and creativity of Junya Ito on the right wing can pose significant threats to Lens’ defensive line.

Expected lineup for Reims:

• Goalkeeper: Yehvann Diouf
• Defenders: Hiroki Sekine, Mory Gbane, Malcolm Jeng, Sergio Akieme
• Midfielders: Valentin Atangana Edoa, Amadou Koné, Teddy Teuma
• Attackers: Junya Ito, Mamadou Diakhon, Keito Nakamura

The key battle to watch will be between Nakamura and Lens’ central defenders, Malang Sarr and Facundo Medina.

Reims Suspensions & Injuries

Player	Injury	Expected return
Reda Khadra	Cruciate ligament injury	Late May 2025
Mohammed Daramy	Knee injury	Mid April 2025
Yaya Fofana	Ankle injury	Late April 2025
Gabriel Moscardo	Muscle injury	Doubtful
Joseph Okumu	Shoulder injury	Mid May 2025
Player	Suspension	Expected return
—————-	————	—————–
Cédric Kipré	Red card	1 match

Reims are facing significant challenges heading into the match against Lens due to these suspensions and injuries. Key defensive player Cédric Kipré is serving a suspension after receiving a red card, weakening their backline. Injuries to crucial players like Okumu and Khadra further exacerbate their defensive issues, while attackers like Daramy are also in the recovery phase. This could make it difficult for Reims to field their strongest XI and may impact their overall performance against a stronger Lens side.

Reims Tactics and Formation

Reims’ Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 4-3-3
• Key Forward: Keito Nakamura
• Top scorer with 9 goals this season.
• Midfield Trio:
  • Valentin Atangana Edoa
  • Amadou Koné
  • Teddy Teuma
• Defensive Strength:
  • One clean sheet in the last five games.
• Notable Strategy:
  • Utilizing Nakamura’s speed and Junya Ito’s dribbling on the wings to stretch the opposition’s defense.

Given the current suspensions and injuries, the team is likely to implement a compact midfield to protect a weakened backline. The focus will be on counter-attacks and maintaining a disciplined shape to mitigate Lens’ home advantage.

Lens vs Reims Head-to-Head Statistics

Home team	Away team	Date	Competition	Result
Reims	Lens	2024-11-29	Ligue 1	0-2 (Loss)
Reims	Lens	2024-02-18	Ligue 1	1-1 (Draw)
Lens	Reims	2023-12-16	Ligue 1	2-0 (Win)
Lens	Reims	2023-05-12	Ligue 1	2-1 (Win)
Reims	Lens	2022-12-21	Friendly	1-2 (Loss)

Over the last five encounters, Lens has proven dominant against Reims, securing three wins and a draw.

With their most recent meeting ending in a 2-0 victory for Lens, the home team will be looking to continue this trend at Stade Bollaert-Delelis. This historical edge adds an extra layer of confidence for Lens fans as they eye crucial points for a possible European competition spot.

Odds accurate as of 09.04.2025 19:46, and are subject to change. Please always check the odds before placing your bets with any bookmaker.