Lens vs Monaco

Champions League hopefuls Monaco head to the Stade Bollaert-Delelis to meet seventh-placed Rennes in a high-stakes Ligue 1 showdown.

Lens’ formidable run of seven Ligue 1 matches without losing (W5, D2), including victories in the last two, keeps them in contention for a European finish ahead of the final weekend. Yet, with a two-point deficit on fifth-placed Strasbourg, ‘Les Sang et Or’ need to beat Monaco and hope other results go their way to snatch away the Europa Conference League qualification spot. Franck Haise’s men will take the field in high spirits, even though a 2-2 draw with Nantes in their most recent Ligue 1 outing at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis arrested their three-game winning home league streak. Against this backdrop, Lens are winless in their last five home league meetings with Monaco (D3, L2), four of which saw them concede 2+ goals.

In the meantime, stakes could not be higher for Monaco, who are bidding to secure a second successive top-three Ligue 1 finish. Coming into the season finale, ‘Les Monégasques’ are second in the standings, level on points with third-placed Marseille and three clear of Rennes in fourth. Avenging a 2-0 defeat in the reverse fixture tops Monaco’s list of priorities, and Philippe Clement’s lads don’t have to look beyond their jaw-dropping four-match winning league streak on the road for inspiration. Curiously, each of those four victories came in spite of Monaco’s inability to keep a clean sheet. Astonishingly, Monaco have won their last nine Ligue 1 games on the trot and could become only the third side to end a season with 10+ triumphs.