Lens take on the visitors Lyon in the round 1 match of French Ligue 1. The match will be played on Saturday, August 16th at Stade Bollaert-Delelis (Lens).
Lens are still ambitious, even if they have to live within their means. The “Blood and Gold” went through a difficult spell after their glory days at the turn of the century, even struggling to get out of Ligue 2. But since returning to the top flight under Franck Haise, they’ve delivered sensational results — even finishing as runners-up to PSG. While they couldn’t repeat that feat, last season they at least made it to the UEFA Conference League. However, they failed to qualify for European competition again, which is hardly surprising given their constant sale of stars and promising youngsters, like Khouzana in January. This summer, they also let Abdelhamid and Medina go. Still, there are newcomers, and for Baidu the French club paid a notable €8 million to Red Bull Salzburg. Lens have looked competitive in pre-season, showing solid defensive organisation, but their lack of depth could be an issue over a long campaign. Even so, their home form remains strong, making them a tricky opponent for any visitor.
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Lyon used to dominate Ligue 1 not so long ago. During PSG’s era, they couldn’t reclaim top spot but still enjoyed spells of success, regularly playing in the Champions League. More recently, only the breakout performances of Saz helped them finish last season on a positive note. In 2024/25, Pierre was dismissed mid-season (and later took charge of Lens), replaced by Paulo Fonseca. Soon after, the former Shakhtar boss aggressively confronted a referee, earning a touchline ban — but even from a distance, he helped his side beat Strasbourg to claim sixth place. That result secured Europa League football, though financial issues almost saw them relegated to Ligue 2. They fought off the sanction, and while selling stars like Cherki, they also signed new players — including Morton from Liverpool for €10+5 million. Lyon’s away form has been inconsistent, but they’ve shown resilience in tight matches, often grinding out points when under pressure. With a few key injuries, however, their squad depth will be tested early in the season.
Over the last two seasons, in four meetings, Lens have earned just one draw while losing three times to Lyon. The more organised side at the moment is playing at home — we back the hosts to win.
Prediction for the match: Lens to win.
