The Matchday 23 Ligue 1 fixture between Lens and Monaco will take place on 21 February at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis. Lens vs Monaco: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Lens
The team regained top spot in the standings after the previous round. Playing away from home, the club thrashed Paris 5:0, while in another match Paris Saint-Germain lost to Rennes (1:3). As a result, Lens are once again one point clear of their main rival. The side are also on a three-match winning run in the league, with a 9:1 goal difference across that spell. The club also lead Ligue 1 for fewest goals conceded, with just 17 allowed.
- The team have won 11 of their last 12 league matches.
- Lens have scored at least twice in 8 of their last 12 Ligue 1 games.
- On home soil, the club are on a 10-match winning streak in the league.
Potential Lens Lineup (3-4-2-1)*
Robin Risser – Malang Sarr, Pierre Ganiou, Nidal Celik – Adrien Thomasson, Mamadou Sangare, Matthieu Udol, Saud Abdulhamid – Wesley Said, Florian Thauvin – Odsonne Edouard.
Due to injuries, goalkeeper Regis Gurtner and defenders Samson Baidoo and Jonathan Gradit are unavailable.
Monaco
In the previous round, the visitors hosted Nantes and won 3:1. It was their second straight home victory in the league, having previously thrashed Rennes (4:0). Between those wins, the club also played out two goalless draws away from home in Ligue 1. It is also worth noting that the team have managed to avoid defeat in four consecutive Ligue 1 matches for the second time this season, while the club have not gone five league games in a row without losing since May last year. Monaco sit eighth, three points outside the top six.
- Monaco have failed to win 6 of their last 8 Ligue 1 matches (2 draws and 4 defeats).
- Monaco have failed to score in their last four away league matches.
- The club have not won in five straight away Ligue 1 games (2 draws and 3 defeats).
Potential Monaco Lineup (4-3-2-1)*
Philipp Koehn – Vanderson de Oliveira, Thilo Kehrer, Wout Faes, Caio Henrique – Lamine Camara, Denis Zakaria, Maghnes Akliouche – Simon Adingra, Aleksandr Golovin – Folarin Balogun.
Due to injuries, goalkeepers Lukas Hradecky, forward Ansu Fati, midfielders Pape Cabral, Paul Pogba and Takumi Minamino, and defenders Kassoum Ouattara, Christian Mawissa, Mohammed Salisu and Eric Dier are unavailable. Midfielder Aleksandr Golovin is suspended.
Referee
Willy Delajod (France)
Matches – 11 (Ligue 1, 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 29;
Yellow cards per match on average – 2.6;
Red cards shown – 3;
Fouls per match on average – 24;
Penalties – 45%.
Lens vs Monaco: Match Prediction
The hosts of this upcoming fixture have clearly deserved to win the league this season. After 22 matchdays they have as many as 17 victories, with even Paris Saint-Germain registering one fewer win. In their last two matches, Lens not only secured convincing wins, but also scored eight goals in the process. It is also worth adding that Pierre Sage's side have kept a clean sheet in 5 of their last 7 Ligue 1 games.
With such a strong attack and the best defence in the division, it will be difficult for the visitors to cope. Across their previous 12 league matches, Monaco have managed only three wins, and all of them came at home. Away from home, the team have collected just two points from their last five league games and scored only one goal. Monaco failed to score even against Nice, Le Havre and Brest, opponents who are in the bottom half of the table, so we should not expect them to find the net against the league leaders. On top of that, Lens have beaten this opponent in the last two head-to-head meetings by an aggregate score of 8:1.
Prediction: Lens to win
* For each team, the starting XI listed is from their most recent match in this competition.
