Two sides aiming to mount a charge for the European places will lock horns in Ligue 1 on Saturday as Lens welcome Montpellier HSC to the Stade Bollaert-Delelis.

The hosts have played a game fewer than Montpellier but are only two points adrift of the visitors, who sit sixth in the table, while Lens occupy eighth spot heading into this bout.

Match preview

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Lens would have certainly been aware that they would hardly get a better chance to prevail at the home of Rennes last weekend, with Les Rouge et Noir enduring a dismal spell of form both domestically and in Europe.

Franck Haise's men did not let the magnitude of the occasion affect them as the newly-promoted side marched to a 2-0 win at the Roazhon Park, with Arnaud Kalimuendo netting in the first half before Ignatius Ganago came off the bench to wrap up the win in the 78th minute.

Lens continue to surprise since making their return to the big time and find themselves just seven points adrift of leaders Paris Saint-Germain after 13 matches, an impressive feat when also considering that the Sang et Or camp was hit with a coronavirus outbreak just six weeks ago.

Haise's men could potentially find themselves as high as fifth with another impressive victory in the 2020-21 Ligue 1 campaign, but Sang et Or would need to turn their fortunes around at home to have any hope of breaking into the European places, with Lens failing to win any of their last three on familiar territory.

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Montpellier could have been forgiven for feeling optimistic about their chances of taking points off of Paris Saint-Germain last weekend, with the leaders rotating heavily as the Champions League temporarily took precedence over Ligue 1 for Thomas Tuchel's men.

However, La Paillade were unable to stretch their winning streak to five matches as PSG ran out 3-1 winners at the Stade de la Mosson, with Kylian Mbappe coming off the bench to net his 100th goal for the club after Colin Dagba and Moise Kean had already bagged one each.

The story could have been different had Andy Delort lined up against the champions, but the six-goal striker - who also has four assists to his name this season - returned a positive coronavirus test before the game and was forced to miss out.

The loss to the champions meant that Montpellier were unable to take advantage of Monaco's defeat to Lille and Michel Der Zakarian's men remain outside the top five on goal difference, but something has to give when Monaco travel to fourth-placed Marseille in another pulsating encounter this weekend.

Montpellier could potentially climb up to fourth with a win if Monaco's game with Marseille ends all square, and La Paillade will certainly feel confident of another away win as they have triumphed in their last three outings on the road - keeping a clean sheet each time.

Lens and Montpellier have not faced off against each other since the 2014-15 campaign, with La Paillade winning 1-0 away after the two clubs had played out a 3-3 draw at the Stade de la Mosson.

Lens Ligue 1 form: LDWDLW

Montpellier HSC Ligue 1 form: LWWWWL

Team News

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Lens will have to make do without Jonathan Gradit and Cheick Doucoure in this fixture - both of whom are suspended for picking up three bookings in the space of 10 matches.

Facundo Medina should therefore come back in to Haise's back three in place of the suspended Gradit, while Ganago is pushing for a recall to the first XI after his goal as a substitute last weekend.

Cheick Traore is the hosts' only injury concern and the right-back will not be fit in time for this one, but Traore has stepped up his recovery from an Achilles tendon rupture.

Montpellier are also in good shape heading into this game, with Delort the solitary absentee as he continues to recover from coronavirus.

Yun Il-lok was handed a start against PSG but was hauled off just after the hour mark, and Der Zakarian may be tempted to take a punt on Petar Skuletic at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis.

Lens possible starting lineup:
Leca; Haidara, Bade, Medina; Clauss, Fofana, Cahuzac, Sylla; Kakuta; Ganago, Kalimuendo

Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:
Omlin; Sambia, Congre, Mendes, Ristic; Ferri, Savanier, Mollet; Laborde, Skuletic, Mavididi

We say: Lens 0-1 Montpellier HSC

This is an incredibly difficult game to predict between two sides pushing for a European berth, and Lens have proved throughout the season that they are not here just to make up the numbers. However, the hosts have struggled for results on their own patch while Montpellier's away form makes for good reading for the Paillade faithful, so we think Der Zakarian's men will just edge this one.

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