Lille vs Lens Predictions: More than one reason goals may be hard to come by

Our betting expert has prepared Lille vs Lens predictions for their Ligue 1 clash on Friday, March 29th.

As if local pride is at stake in the 119th edition of Derby du Nord wasn’t enough, only one point separates these two great rivals in the Ligue 1 table. The fourth-placed side hosts the sixth in what promises to be a thrilling, closely-fought battle between two sides where there is no love lost.

Lille vs RC Lens Predictions & Tips

Draw @ 3.45 with Bet9ja Under 2.25 goals @ 2.05 with Bet9ja NG @ 1.98 with Bet9ja 0-0 at Half Time @ 2.75 with Bet9ja David Costa over 1.5 shots @ 1.90 with bet365 Over 9 Corners @ 2.10 with bet365 Penalty taken @ 2.75 with Bet9ja

These sides are tough to split, so a 0-0 draw seems to be a likely outcome.

More than one reason goals may be hard to come by

Local derbies are often close, tight, cagey affairs and this upcoming Derby du Nord should be no exception. The significance of the league positions and the game coming immediately after an international break only heightened the anticipation.

Both teams have top five defences, having conceded 23 and 26 goals respectively. When looking at the Ligue 1 stats, only Nice (19) and Brest (17) have seen more games go under 2.5 goals than Lille (16) and Lens (15).

Bet 1: Under 2.25 goals @ 2.05 with Bet9ja

Deadlock unbroken in the opening half

As this is a game expected to be tight and low-scoring, we may not see a goal in the first half. Therefore, to get the 0-0 at the interval onside at odds against offers value in a game neither side dare lose.

This may not have landed since 2021, but the last three head-to-head meetings have all come very close. The reverse fixture was 0-0 until a goal three minutes into added on time, with the deadlock broken on 41 and 44 minutes in two prior clashes.

Bet 2: 0-0 at Half Time @ 2.75 with Bet9ja

Hedging our bets by taking two outcomes

A draw would not be a bad result for both sides. Local pride remains intact and neither side loses ground in the race for European qualification. In a game where both are more concerned with not losing than winning, a draw becomes an attractive outcome.

However, a look at the odds with Bet9ja sees Lille as the favourite to be the winner of this derby. This means I can have the draw AND Lens to win onside for my tips. Les Sang et Or have only lost one of the last six head-to-heads, with the last two ending 1-1. Last season’s runners-up have won three of their last four road trips and lost only one of their last 10 away league games.

Bet 3: Lens +0.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.81 with bet365

Costa shots just my cuppa tea

After having a rather pessimistic outlook for the match, I will end my predictions with a positive selection. David Costa has come through the ranks of Lens’ youth academy and has been a fixture in the side over the last two seasons, making 64 league appearances.

The 23-year-old suffered injury frustration at the start of the campaign, but is back in top form now, having started the last five games. The Portuguese midfielder has had at least two shots in four of those five appearances and in eight of his last 11 in total.

Bet 4: David Costa over 1.5 shots @ 1.90 with bet365