2023 kicks off with a top Ligue 1 clash
Lens host Paris Saint-Germain in a top of the table clash in Ligue 1 on New Year’s Day.
The Blood and Golds have been an excellent addition to the French top-flight in the last few seasons and will be desperate to sustain a bid for Champions League football this term.
The gap to Christophe Galtier’s Parisians stands at seven points, and Lens are unlikely to close that significantly at any stage, but it is a nice time to play the league leaders given their commitments at the World Cup.
Neymar is suspended, while Nuno Mendes, Pascal Kimpembe and Renato Sanches are sidelined, and Lens have earned a lot of respect from the market, in part due to PSG’s availability issues.
Lens will be without Wuilker Farnez, Jimmy Cabot, David Costa and Adam Buksa, and will be enthused by their chances of challenging a side with the individual talent of PSG.
Process
Both sides have been very strong defensively, with the hosts improving in that rearguard, and enhancing their chances of a lofty finish in the process.
Lens have scored 26 goals from 16 outings, creating chances at 1.67 expected goals (xG) for, performing in line with their xG data at this stage.
They have unsustainably overperformed to concede ten goals from 16.8 xGA, and PSG will be hoping for some positive variance to help them breach the Blood and Golds backline.
PSG are superior all over the pitch in Ligue 1, scoring a whopping 45 goals from 16 outings so far, putting the league title beyond doubt, PSG are overperforming, but their forward line is so strong that compared to the defences they are coming up against, that overperformance is more sustainable than in other circumstances.
2.24 xGF per game will point most PSG matches towards a goals-based angle.
Goals?
Lens will be bang up for this, and I believe that will lead towards an entertaining encounter.
Lens have scored in seven of ten.
Lens have conceded in three of ten.
Lens have seen both teams score in two of ten.
Lens have seen over 2.5 goals in three of ten.
PSG have scored in nine of ten.
PSG have conceded in six of ten.
PSG have seen both teams score in six of ten.
PSG have seen over 2.5 goals in seven of ten.
Post bet chat Marcus's Tips:
3-1 Lens, a profitable final week of 2022.