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Marseille vs Lens Odds & Prediction – Ligue 1 Week 12

Gary Gowers

by Gary Gowers in Soccer News

Updated Oct 21, 2022 · 12:00 PM PDT

Marseille
Marseille's team players celebrate after the Europa Conference League play-off, second leg, soccer match between FK Qarabag and Marseille at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. (AP Photo)
  • In Ligue 1 on Saturday, October 22 it’s Marseille vs Lens in the Orange Velodrome
  • Third plays fourth in the biggest game of Ligue 1’s Week 12
  • We preview the game, look at the Marseille vs Lens odds, and offer some picks below

It’s Marseille vs Lens in Ligue 1 at the Orange Velodrome on Saturday, October 22, with kick-off scheduled for 3:00pm ET.

Third plays fourth as two Ligue 1 teams with title aspirations meet in one of France’s great soccer theaters. Last weekend, Marseille lost 1-0 to the mighty PSG while Lens enjoyed a 1-0 win over Montpellier.

We preview Marseille vs Lens, look at the Ligue 1 odds, and offer some analysis, team news, and picks below.

Marseille vs Lens Odds

Matchup Moneyline
Marseille +100
Lens +260
Draw +255

Odds as of Oct 20 at Caesars Sportsbook. Use this Caesars Sportsbook promo code to bet on this or other games.

Marseille are listed as even-money favorites with, by implication, an implied win probability of 50%. Lens, as outsiders, are pitched at +260 with a win probability of just 27.8%. The draw is listed at +255 – an implied probability of 28.2%.

 

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Over/Under and Spread

Caesars are not anticipating goals in this game with under 2.5 listed at -120, while over is also very short at -110.

If you’re new to betting on soccer and want to know about Soccer Futures and Outright Betting, then our page offers help on how to do this in Ligue 1 and other top leagues.

Marseille vs Lens Prediction

Marseille’s disappointing 1-0 defeat in Paris saw them drop out of Ligue 1’s top three but it remains tight of the top with leaders PSG only six points ahead of Olympique. Marseille will take heart from a good performance in the capital and could well have rescued a point but for Samuel Gigot’s 72nd-minute red card.

But it’s still a worrying and untimely blip for Saturday’s hosts who also lost their previous Ligue 1 game – a shock 1-0 defeat at the hands of 18th-placed Ajaccio. For them to stay in touch with PSG they badly need a win against Lens.

Marseille in Dire Need of a Win

In addition to their need to stay in touch with PSG, this weekend’s opponents, who are in third, and second-placed Lorient are both showing ominous signs of pulling away, and there is also pressure on Marseille from Rennes and Monaco who are both only two points behind them. In a very crowded top six, every dropped point comes at a cost.

On the plus side, Marseille’s home form has generally been okay, and they have scored in each of their six home league games this season, but they will need to be more solid defensively as they have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last three in the Velodrome.

Marseille vs Lens Head-to-Head Stats

Marseille
VS
Lens
7-2-2 Ligue 1 record 7-3-1
20 / 8 Goals for / Goals against 18 / 8
58.87 Possession (%) 60.08
5926 Total passes 6350
82.9 Pass accuracy (%) 87.2
4th Current league position 3rd
W-W-D-W-L-L Form guide (Ligue 1) D-W-D-W-L-W

Low-Scorers Lens Up to Third

Lens bounced back perfectly from their derby day defeat by Lille in Week 9, with a vital 1-0 home win over Montpellier. It concluded a good week for Les Sang et Or as head coach Franck Haise had, a few days earlier, signed a new contract keeping him at the club until 2027.

It’s no coincidence that Lens’ last two games have ended with a 1-0 scoreline, as low-scoring games have been their trademark this season so far. In fact, four of their last five have ended 1-0, with, in between, their Week 8 draw with Nantes ending goalless.

Tough Times on the Road

While Lens haven’t been especially productive in front of goal – they are the lowest scorers in the top seven – they have a defensive record that is the joint-second best in the league, level with Marseille and only bettered by PSG. Worth noting though is that their success so far has largely been borne of a fantastic home record – six wins from six – and on the road they are 1-3-1.

Lens’ only win on the road was an impressive one  – a 4-1 victory in Monaco back in August – and they also have a 3-2 win in the Velodrome last season to draw inspiration from.

Marseille vs Lens Team Lineups and Injuries

Marseille Projected Lineup: Lopez, Mbemba, Balerdi, Bailly, Clauss, Rongier, Veretout, Tavares, Under, Guendouzi, Sanchez.

Injuries & absences: Kolasinac.

Lens Projected Lineup: Samba, Haidara, Danso, Medina, Frankowski, Fofana, Abdul Samed, Machado, Sotoca, Said; Openda.

Injuries & absences: Gradit, Cabot, Farinez.

Marseille vs Lens Picks

Marseille’s desperate need for a win and Lens’ poor away form point to a home win. But don’t expect too many goals with the visitors’ habit of being involved in low-scoring matches.

At even money, the value here is with the Marseille win, and let’s also consider the under 2.5 goals.

Picks: Marseille to win (+100) / / Under 2.5 goals (-120) 

 

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