- 1 Lens vs Lorient: three goals a game for Les Sang et Or, zero wins for Les Merlus
- 2 Lens: an attack in full flow and a fortress at Bollaert
- 3 Lorient: solid on the road, blunt up front
- 4 Ligue 1 prediction Lens vs Lorient
- 5 First, a word on our free predictions
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information changes
- 8 Your role
- 9 Responsible gambling first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the images…
Lens vs Lorient: three goals a game for Les Sang et Or, zero wins for Les Merlus 
Lens have the best goals-per-game average in Ligue 1 at the start of the season, with three strikes per match. Lorient are among the teams still waiting for their first win after two rounds.
Kick-off is set for Saturday, September 5 at 17:15 at Stade Bollaert-Delelis, in round three.
Both clubs come into this one on the back of a defeat. Lens lost 2-1 at Strasbourg, while Lorient were beaten 1-2 at home by promoted Troyes.
The head-to-head record at Bollaert is heavily in the home side’s favour: seven games unbeaten for Les Sang et Or, with five wins in the last six.
Still, Lorient are not done with this rivalry. Les Merlus won 2-1 at home in March and can now beat Lens twice in the same calendar year for the first time since 2017.
The fixture list adds another layer to this one. Lens begin their Champions League campaign next Thursday away to Slavia Prague, so this is the last stop before Europe gets in the way.
After two rounds, Lens sit seventh. Lorient are still in the pack of teams without a win.
This one should be defined by a clear mismatch: a Lens attack that has scored in every official home outing in 2026 except one, against a Breton side that has yet to find the net in the first half this season.
Lens: an attack in full flow and a fortress at Bollaert 
Dino Toppmoller got off to a flyer with the Trophee des Champions, taking down PSG 1-0, then followed it with a 5-2 rout of Auxerre on the opening weekend.
The run ended at Strasbourg. Lens led, then conceded twice and threw away their unbeaten start in a 2-1 loss.
That defeat was only the second time in 2026 that Lens have lost a Ligue 1 match after scoring first. So the script still looks like the exception, not the rule.
At Bollaert, the numbers are strong: four straight league wins are on the line on Saturday, and six wins from the last seven home league games in Pas-de-Calais are there for the taking.
Last season, the French runners-up kept eight home clean sheets in the league. In 2026, Lens have been shut out by their own fans only once.
Florian Thauvin scored Lens’ only goal at Strasbourg from the spot, his 100th career Ligue 1 goal and his fourth of the campaign. He now shares top scorer status with Louis Mafouta and Esteban Lepaul.
There are doubts in defence: Jonathan Gradit is recovering from a lower-leg fracture, Samson Baidoo and Jhoanner Chavez are out, and Jean-Clair Todibo, who arrived this week on loan from West Ham, is in line for a first squad call.
Lens’ transfer window was all about exits. Sangare, Sarr, Thomasson, Saint-Maximin, Masuaku and Fofana all left Artois this summer.
Even so, the club’s start has been strong. That Trophee des Champions win over PSG remains the best guide to what this side can do.
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Lorient: solid on the road, blunt up front 
Alexandre Dujeux is still chasing his first win as Breton boss. The former Angers coach is now 11 games without a victory as a Ligue 1 manager.
The goalless draw at Nice on opening day at least offered a promising defensive marker. Les Aiglons managed just one shot on target.
But the first home game of the season quickly brought a reality check. Newly promoted Troyes left the Moustoir with all three points in a 2-1 win.
Away from home, though, Les Merlus are on a three-match unbeaten run in the league and have not conceded in their last two Ligue 1 trips.
The issue is at the other end. Lorient still have not scored in the first half this season, even though they picked up points in their last two away league games of last term by striking first.
Jean-Victor Makengo scored Lorient’s first goal of the season against Troyes. Ibrahima Balde, brought in on loan from Rodez in the final hours of the window, arrives with five goals already this season and is expected to add some bite to an attack missing Pagis, who has joined Paris FC, and Dieng, who has gone to Red Star Belgrade.
Mohamed Bamba and Bandiougou Fadiga are likely to miss the trip, while midfielder Avom, who has a knee problem, remains a doubt.
The backdrop is unusual for Les Merlus. Last season, the promoted club finished 10th and never got dragged into the relegation scrap.
But the squad has been stripped of several key figures. Abergel, Meite, Faye, Yongwa, Soumano and Mvuka are among the summer departures.
That shake-up explains the early attacking problems, with just one league goal scored in two matches.
Expected Lens line-up: Risser – Aguilar, Antonio, Ganiou – Skoras, Cuisance, Titraoui, Udol – Thauvin, Ivanovic – Sima.
Expected Lorient line-up: Mvogo – Sylla, Talbi, Adjei – Le Bris, Makengo, Cadiou, Kouassi – Bernardeau, Jensen – Balde.
Ligue 1 prediction Lens vs Lorient
Our prediction: Lens win (odds 1.48 – -208 – 12/25)
The numbers at Bollaert point one way: seven home games unbeaten against Lorient, with five wins in the last six. Lens have scored in every league home outing in 2026 except one.
On the other side, a Breton team that has yet to score before the break this season and a new coach who is already 11 games without a win in the top flight.
Lens are missing a few defenders, and Lorient can hold their own away from home, but the gap in attacking quality settles it. Lens should get it done on Saturday.
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