Ambushing in the race for the top 5, RC Lens has a rather affordable month of Januarywith the exception of the reception of PSG, to try to catch up and thus assert its ambitions a little more.
Toulouse, a not so easy recovery
Last resident of the first part of the table (9th), Toulouse has not been talked about much since the start of the season. However, the club from the pink city is a good indicator for any ambitious team. If Monaco (2-0) and Paris (3-0) recently won, Carles Martínez Novell's men gave a tough time each time. A little earlier in the season, Marseille had to settle for a draw (2-2), while Lille and Lyon had to fight hard to win (2-1). While knowing that Toulouse are among the teams that underperform the most according to the xG model.
Le Havre, three points or nothing
With or without its supporters, doubt still being allowed, RC Lens will in any case have the mission of bringing back the three points for Le Havre, a team in great difficulty since the start of the season (5 defeats in the last 7 matches, 1 elimination in the Coupe de France and 11 defeats). Relegated, the Normans also have the worst attack in the championship with only 11 goals scored (5 at home). Just before the break, Strasbourg won quite quietly at the Stade Océane (0-3).
PSG, a revenge a month later
Barely time to have digested the elimination on penalties in the Coupe de France that RC Lens will already find PSG! This time during a match which will be worth three points, as part of the very first day of the return phase. So far, the reigning French champion has remained undefeated on the national scene (12 wins, 4 draws in Ligue 1) thanks to an unparalleled offensive strike force (44 – 12 more than any other team). Enough to measure the scale of the challenge awaiting the Lensois, finally quite close to achieving the feat in the Cup.
Angers, the opportunity to earn
RC Lens' first opponent this season, Angers once again stands on the road to the Artésiens to end the month of January. Just above the waterline (15th), the promoted player has had a successful season so far to hope to maintain his position. All while mainly beating direct competitors like Saint-Etienne (4-2), Le Havre (0-1) and, to everyone's surprise, Monaco (0-1). Nevertheless, the majority of the top teams (Lyon, Paris, Lille and Nice) managed to win against Alexandre Dujeux's team.
The RC Lens calendar:
January 5: Toulouse (D)
January 12: Le Havre (E)
January 18: PSG (D)
January 26: Angers (D)
Photo credits: Baptiste Fernandez/Icon Sport
