Ligue 1 leaders Lille are looking to keep their four-point advantage over the rivals against neighbours Lens, the team that have just left the relegation zone. Les Dogues continued the rich vein of form by beating Nancy last Wednesday, whereas Lens recorded second successive victory, having beaten relegation rivals Caen.

Attacking football can produce results

Lille are widely regarded as one of the most exciting sides in European football, even if their attractive attacking style of play is completely uncharacteristic for French football, and they are the perfect proof that uncompromising approach can produce great results. Boss Rudi Garcia managed to find a real balance in the side, which is not easy when you have such forwards like Sow, Hazard and Gervinho in the starting line-up. As a result Lille boast by far the best scoring record in French top flight and they have a four-point cushion at the top, which makes them favourites for the league title. The team are playing extremely well at the moment, having won their last four games in all competitions and a side like Lens shouldn’t pose them too many problems.

Rudi Garcia has absolutely no injury worries, while Cabaye, Sow, Hazard and Chedjou set to return to the starting line-up after being rested in the Cup game against Wasquehal.

Finally out of the bottom three

After beating newcomers Arles in the second round of the league campaign, Lens needed more than two months to record their second league victory and they seemed unable to leave the relegation zone. Les Sang et Or ended the first part of the season in the bottom three, fearing for their Ligue 1 status but then the club management decided to appoint former Standard Liege coach Laszlo Boloni as the new boss and that is now looking like a very good decision. After suffering a 5:1 defeat to PSG in his first game in charge, Boloni led Lens to successive home victories against St Etienne and Caen, which helped the team finally leave the relegation zone. Lens now have a good chance to staying alive, but Stade Lille Metropole is definitely not the place where they should be searching for survival points as their leaky defence cannot be expected to stop players like Sow, Hazard and Gervinho from scoring.

Midfielder Samba Sow starts his three-match suspension and he is the only absentee at the moment.

Verdict

Lille are flying high at the moment and they are very convincing at their Stade Lille Metropole, so it is very likely relegation strugglers Lens will be sent home with at least a couple of goals in their net. Les Sang et Or doesn’t look capable of surviving the short trip, so we expect Lille to win the game with few goals to spare.

Our prediction: Lille to beat -1.5 Asian handicap

Odds: 2.10 (11/10)

Bookmaker: Victor Chandler