Our prediction for this Ligue 1 match:
Lens
Match Time & Date:
22/04/2023
21:00
Prediction: 2-2
Monaco
All eyes will be on Stade Bollaert-Delelis when Lens and Monaco take on each other in the Ligue 1 derby. A place in the Champions League is at stake, and, no doubt, there will be fireworks in Saturday’s showdown. Lens aim to make amends for a 3-1 loss to PSG, but they will have to do it without suspended midfielder Salis Abdul Samed. The likes of Julien Le Cardinal, Steven Fortes, and Adam Buksa should miss out with injuries.
Les Rouges et Blancs, on the other hand, aim to build on a 3-1 win over Lorient. Monaco have been impressive in front of goal this season, and seeing that Lens are a real force to be reckoned with at home, over 2.5 goals betting option should be considered. You should know that over 2.5 goals have been netted in each of their last three meetings in all competitions. The visitors will be without Ruben Aguilar, Gelson Martins, Breel Embolo, and Malang Sarr in Saturday’s encounter.
Highlighted Player (Seko Fofana):
Born in Paris on May 7, 1995, Seko Fofana is a midfielder who plays for Serie A side Udinese. Fofana started his career at the youth teams of Paris FC and in 2010 he moved to Lorient. After spending four years at the club, the French footballer joined Premier League side Manchester City in the 2013/2014 season.
Despite being a Man City player from 2014 to 2016, Seko Fofana did not see any game action in the English top flight with the Citizens as he was immediately sent on loan to Fulham (2014/2015). He played for Bastia on loan in the 2015/2016 season as well and in the summer of 2016 he signed a five-year deal with Italian side Udinese.
You should know that Fofana scored five goals in 22 appearances for the Zebrette in the 2016/2017 Serie A campaign. His contract with the Serie A team should expire on June 30, 2022. Due to his dual citizenship the Udinese footballer is eligible to play for France and Ivory Coast at senior level.
Highlighted Team (Monaco):
Though based in Monaco, Les Rouges et Blances – as they are commonly referred to – play their games in the French football league system. Members of the top tier Ligue 1, Monaco play their home matches at the Stade Louis II in Fontvieille in front of 18,500 people. The Principality club boasts a turbulent history, which saw Monaco reach the highest heights of both domestic and international scene, but also get relegated to the amateur leagues at the very beginnings and to Ligue 2 in 2010-11 season.
The following year AS Monaco were acquired by the Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev, whose heavy investments turned the Principality club into one of the biggest spenders in Europe in 2013 and reestablishing its place among Europe’s top clubs.
AS Monaco have had notable European results in the modern football era having been runners-up in the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1992 and the UEFA Champions League in 2004. One of the most successful clubs in France AS Monaco have so far won seven league titles and five Coupe de France trophies.
