Lens will be looking to keep pace with the top three in Ligue 1 when they face a resurgent Montpellier HSC outfit at the Stade de la Mosson this weekend.
Montpellier head into Saturday's clash on the back of two straight victories, while Lens returned to winning ways with a 3-1 triumph over Nantes last time out.
Match preview
Following a run of six defeats in seven games across all competitions after the turn of the year, Montpellier brought in club legend Michel Der Zakarian for a second spell as manager.
Since then, Der Zakarian has overseen back-to-back wins, with La Paillade crushing Brest 3-0 before securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Troyes last weekend.
Montpellier have now won eight of their 24 league outings this season, leaving them seven points clear of the relegation zone, although only the bottom two clubs have lost more games in 2022-23.
Having suffered 14 defeats this term – recording just two draws along the way – Montpellier will be desperate to establish some consistency under Der Zakarian.
If the previous two matches are anything to go by, however, Montpellier should be able to avoid a relegation battle, having improved dramatically since the managerial change.
When Lens lost just one of their opening 20 league matches this season – picking up 13 wins in the process – Franck Haise's side emerged as genuine title contenders.
However, a recent four-game winless run saw the Blood and Gold fall off the pace in the race for the title, with narrow defeats to Nice and Lyon coming during that period.
Although Lens now find themselves eight points shy of table-topping Paris Saint-Germain, they remain a solitary point behind third-placed Monaco and only three points behind Marseille in second.
On top of that, Lens boast the best defensive record in the division, having conceded just 19 goals in 24 matches this term, with goalkeeper Brice Samba keeping nine clean sheets in 2022-23.
After securing a dominant 3-1 victory over Nantes last weekend, Haise's men appear to be over their mini-slump and look set to enhance their European aspirations in the coming weeks.
Team News
Montpellier will be without key striker Stephy Mavididi this weekend, as the Englishman has missed the previous two games through injury.
To make matters worse, goalkeeper Dimitry Bertaud is still sidelined with a knee problem, so Benjamin Lecomte will continue to feature between the sticks.
Teji Savanier is suspended for Saturday's clash after picking up a red card last time out, while Cheikh Faye, Beni Makouana, Pedro Mendes and Theo Sainte-Luce remain absent due to injury.
Lens have multiple injury problems of their own, as Adam Buksa, Jimmy Cabot, Wuilker Farinez and Steven Fortes have all been sidelined for an extended period.
Forward Alexis Claude-Maurice is also expected to be absent from the matchday squad this weekend, having missed the last five games with a knee injury.
With seven goals and eight assists to his name this season, Florian Sotoca will continue to lead the line for Lens, with Adrien Thomasson offering support in attack.
Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:
Lecomte; Sacko, Jullien, Kouyate, Sylla; Ferri, Leroy; Nordin, Khazri, Maouassa; Wahi
Lens possible starting lineup:
Samba; Gradit, Danso, Medina; Frankowski, Samed, Fofana, Machado; Thomasson, Fulgini; Sotoca
We say: Montpellier HSC 1-1 Lens
Having claimed back-to-back wins following Der Zakarian's arrival, Montpellier will fancy their chances of frustrating Lens, regardless of the 23-point gap between the two sides.
The Blood and Gold have drawn four of their last five away league outings, so the European chasers might have to settle for another point on the road this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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