Lens and Valenciennes meet at Stade Bollaert-Delelis, in a match for the 32nd round of League 2. Valenciennes won at home by (4-2) the last time they met in this edition of the league, at 10- 11-2018. In this stadium, the history of direct confrontations indicates total equilibrium between these two teams, since there was 1 draw and 1 win for each team in the last 3 matches. In fact, the last time these two teams played a match at this stadium was on 10-02-2018, for League 2, which ended in a draw by (1-1). The goals of the match were scored by D. Cvetinović (90 ‘), for Lens, and S. Privat (44’), for Valenciennes. Despite being a match between 6th and 12th of the table, it is actually a match between the 3rd classified in home games and the 16th as a visitor.
Lens:
The home team is currently in the 6 th position of the league, with 49 points won, after 14 wins, 8 draws and 9 losses. In the penultimate match, they tied in a home match against Le Havre, by (0-0). In the last match, they tied in an away match against Châteauroux, by (0-0). This is a stronger team in their stadium, where they have won 31 points, against only 18 in their away matches. For the championship, Lens won 18 points out of 30 possible, after 5 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses in the last 10 home matches. In their home league matches the most frequent result at half-time was the 0-0 (6 out of 15 matches). In 31 matches in this competition, they have only won 1 of their 11 matches in which they have conceded the first goal.
The oscillation that the Lens had was not expected, but is still in the fight for promotion, so it aims to improve to at least return to the area of the playoffs of promotion. In spite of being facing an adversary who has his interests, without a doubt he wants the victory and will do everything possible to conquer it, being that at this moment that would be fundamental for his campaign in the competition. Therefore, the team expects to do a good job in the field, knowing the right moments to act and not make mistakes, because it is so that one wins a game. In this game Mehdi Tahrat will be absent, for being in the medical department.
Valenciennes:
After 10 wins, 7 draws and 14 losses, the away team is currently in the 12 th position of the league, with 37 points won. In the penultimate match, they won in an away match against Nancy, by (0-2). In the last match, they lost in a home match against Troyes, by (0-1). This is a team that usually makes good use of the home advantage, since they have won 15 points in away matches and 22 at their stadium, with 20 goals scored and 25 conceded at home, against 24 goals scored and 24 conceded at home. For the championship, Valenciennes won 12 points out of 30 possible points, after 3 wins, 3 draws and 4 losses in the last 10 home matches. Their attack has scored regularly, since they have scored goals in 7 of the last 10 matches for this competition. In 31 matches in this competition, they have only won 1 result in the last 11 matches. In the last 15 home matches for this competition there is 1 period that stands out: they have scored 8 of their 20 goals between minutes (31′-45 ‘).
It is true that Valenciennes is breathing a bit better in the championship, but he is still focusing on maintaining growth, so he will need to show a better quality football if he wants to be regular and reach his goal. This being so, it is important to achieve a good result, despite being aware that the difficulty will exist, as this may end up motivating the players for the rest of the competition. To achieve a positive result it will be necessary to have homogeneity in all sectors of the field, because with a perfect performance and without errors you will be able to conquer a positive result. In this match the best players that are available will go to the field.
