Ligue 1 · Matchday 8 
Our pick2–1Exact score
Lens vs Paris FC: a top-table test with real consequences for the race
Lens have not kept a clean sheet all season, and they face a Paris FC side that has been among the most reliable away sides in Ligue 1. The result could shape how both clubs approach the rest of the campaign.
📍 Stade Bollaert-Delelis
Match report
Lens beat Paris FC 2-1 in Ligue 1 Regular Season matchday 8. Paris FC took the lead in first-half stoppage time, when Luca Koleosho scored in the 45+2nd minute, assisted by Lassine Sinayoko. Lens responded in the 63rd minute through Florian Thauvin, assisted by Thorgan Hazard, and Hazard scored again in the 83rd minute, assisted by Thauvin.
Lens had 56% possession to Paris FC's 44% and took 9 shots to 4, with 3 on target to 1. Their expected goals stood at 0.93 against 0.43, and they won six corners to one. Paris FC's goalkeeper made two saves. Lens's Florian Thauvin was the top-rated player, with a rating of 7.9. The 2-1 home win matches the predicted score from PreviaXI's pre-match model, which gave Lens a 58% chance of winning, 21% for a draw and 21% for a Paris FC win.
Goals
- 45+2'Luca Koleosho · Lassine Sinayoko · Paris FC
- 63'Florian Thauvin · Thorgan Hazard · Lens
- 83'Thorgan Hazard · Florian Thauvin · Lens
Cards
- 28'Moustapha Mbow · Paris FC
- 29'Pierre Lees Melou · Paris FC
- 51'Florian Thauvin · Lens
- 74'Samson Baidoo · Lens
- 89'Michał Skóraś · Lens
- 90+2'Otavio · Paris FC
- 90+5'Y. Cahuzac · Lens
Match stats
⭐ Top-rated player: F. Thauvin (Lens) 7.9
Ratings and statistics: API-Football.
Confirmed lineups
Lens · 3-4-2-1
- 40R. RisserG
- 2R. AguilarD
- 6S. BaidooD
- 20J. TodiboD
- 23Saud AbdulhamidM
- 27M. CuisanceM
- 21A. HaidaraM
- 14M. UdolM
- 10F. ThauvinM
- 7F. SotocaM
- 29F. IvanovićF
Coach: Yannick Cahuzac
Paris FC · 4-2-3-1
- 16O. NkambadioG
- 17A. CamaraD
- 42D. CoppolaD
- 5M. MbowD
- 6OtávioD
- 20M. LopezM
- 33P. Lees-MelouM
- 10I. KebbalM
- 7P. PagisM
- 15L. KoleoshoM
- 9L. SinayokoF
Coach: L. Rosenior
Match facts
Recent form
Last 5 league games, latest on the right
Goals per game
| · | Scored | Conceded |
|---|---|---|
| Lens | 2.0 | 1.6 |
| Paris FC | 1.7 | 1.0 |
League position
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Paris FC | 7 | +5 | 14 |
| 8 | Lens | 7 | +3 | 10 |
Last meetings
- 2026Paris FC0-5Lens
- 2025Lens2-1Paris FC
- 2022Lens0-0Paris FC
- 2020Lens1-2Paris FC
- 2020Paris FC0-2Lens
Absences
Lens
- OutM. Nawrocki · Knee Injury
- OutA. Sima · Muscle Injury
- DoubtfulI. Ganiou · Knee Injury
- DoubtfulJ. Gradit · Muscle Injury
Paris FC
- OutN. Sangui · Muscle Injury
- DoubtfulJ. Ikone · Thigh Injury
PreviaXI model
- Predicted score
- 2-1
- Expected goals (model)
- 2.11 – 1.20
- Double chance
- 1X · 79%12 79% · X2 42%
- Over 2.5 goals
- 64%
- Both teams score
- 62%
- Expected corners
- 10.36.9 – 3.4 · Over 9.5: 58%
- Expected cards
- 4.11.7 – 2.4 · Over 3.5: 59%
Statistical model based on expected goals (xG), results and match statistics from the last two seasons. For information only. How our model works →
Lens have not kept a single clean sheet in seven Ligue 1 matches this season. Facing a Paris FC side that is third in the table, that stat could decide who gains ground in a race that is still wide open.
Context & stakes
Paris FC sit third in the 18-team division with 14 points from seven games and a goal difference of +5. Lens are eighth on 10 points, with a +3 goal difference. The gap is only four points, so a home win on Saturday would move Lens closer to the leaders’ group and keep their hopes of a serious push alive. For Paris FC, a trip to Lens is a chance to show that their start is more than a fine run.
Form
Lens’ recent run reads two wins, one draw and two defeats from their last five, with eight goals scored and seven conceded. They have been better going forward than at the back, and the absence of a clean sheet is the clearest warning sign.
Paris FC have been the more consistent side. Their last five produced three wins, one draw and one defeat, with nine goals scored and seven conceded. Away from home they have been particularly solid, collecting four wins and two draws in their three road games and four home games combined.
Head-to-head
Recent meetings have favoured Lens. They won 5-0 at Paris FC in February, the most one-sided result between the two sides in the recent sample, and they also beat them 2-1 at home last October. Across the five most recent meetings, Lens have won three, drawn one and lost one.
Team news
Lens will be without M. Nawrocki (knee) and A. Sima (muscle), while I. Ganiou (knee) and J. Gradit (muscle) are doubtful. Paris FC are missing N. Sangui (muscle), with J. Ikone (thigh) also a doubt.
Our prediction
PreviaXI’s model favours Lens, mainly because they create the better chances at home and have scored more regularly in their own stadium this season. Paris FC are dangerous on the break and have been hard to beat away, so this should be an open contest rather than a dull one. Lens’ defensive problems are the biggest question, but home momentum and their recent superiority over Paris FC should be enough to edge a tight game.
Lens 2-1 Paris FC
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