Returning to four points from the European places following its success against Clermont, RC Lens will now have a golden opportunity to seriously get closer to the top 5 and put pressure on its direct competitors. Discover the information to know before the meeting.
Receiving doesn’t really help
Being the host of a meeting between Strasbourg and Lens is not really synonymous with advantage in recent years. In the last eight meetings between the two formations, the home team has won only twice. Lens did it in April 2009 (4-1) with a hat-trick from Jemâa and a goal from Yahia when Strasbourg were able to do so in the next confrontation… seven years later, in December 2016. Otherwise, three draws are to list as well as three successes for the visiting team.
Good results with Letexier
Referee of this meeting between “Racing”, François Letexier rhymes with good memories for RC Lens this season. The 32-year-old referee found himself three times at the whistle of a Sang et Or meeting in 2021/2022 for a draw, against Paris (1-1), and two victories against Saint-Etienne (2- 1) and Bordeaux (3-2). He also officiated once in a Strasbourg match, during the eighth day, for a defeat of the Alsatians against Lille (1-2).
Two players suspended, one back
Cards are piling up and causing problems for RC Lens in recent weeks. Yes Facundo Medina is back from suspension after missing the reception of Clermont, a week after Frankowski’s absence against Metz for the same reasons, this time it is two executives who will not be traveling to Strasbourg for an accumulation of yellow cards. Thus Kevin Danso and Florian Sotoca will miss the call of this clash at the top of the table. The carnage could also continue if Cheick Doucouré or Massadio Haïdara were warned. The latter would then miss the derby in Lille in mid-April.
Very solid Strasbourg at La Meinau
To hope to get closer to Europe, RC Lens will have to hit hard and achieve a small feat on Alsatian soil. Since October, Strasbourg have dropped points only three times in nine contested matches! Beaten by Marseille (0-2) in mid-December, Julien Stéphan’s players were hooked by Reims (1-1) at the end of November, then Nice at the end of February (0-0). Otherwise, they offered themselves the scalp of Monaco (1-0), Nantes (1-0) or Montpellier (3-1) while inflicting cards on Saint-Etienne (5-1), Lorient (4-0 ) and Bordeaux (5-2)!
Finally the pass of two?
Since January 15, RC Lens has been looking for a second straight victory in the league. If he had managed to sign three matches without defeat in February, winning against Bordeaux (3-2) and Angers (2-1), these two successes had been interrupted by a draw against Lyon (1-1 ). Two and a half months after the Rennes (1-0) – Saint-Etienne (2-1) sequence, Franck Haise’s players would therefore be well advised to end this series to look seriously at the top of the table.
Adrian Rocher
