Europa League Knockout Play-off: Freiburg vs Lens Lines
Goalless After 90 Minutes
Lens Disappoint in First Leg
Thursday’s game between SC Freiburg and Lens is anyone’s for the taking. These teams met in France last week and the match finished goalless. Now, Freiburg head back to Germany to host the second leg of the Europa League Knockout Play-off feeling confident about their chances.
Meanwhile, RC Lens will be looking for a better offensive effort as they didn’t put a single shot on target last week. With any outcome feasible, we’ll preview the Freiburg vs Lens lines for this UEL contest.
SC Freiburg vs RC Lens
Day/Time:
Location: Europa-Park Stadion, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
Freiburg vs RC Lens Head-to-Head
Last Thursday marked the first-ever meeting between SC Freiburg and Lens. Freiburg put some excellent pressure on Lens in the first half, which led to some opportunities. Roland Sallai hit the crossbar for Freiburg in the first half but there weren’t many great chances.
The second half was relatively uneventful and the teams played to a scoreless draw. Lens didn’t manage to get off a single shot on target at home. The pre-match Freiburg vs Lens lines listed a draw at +290.
Freiburg Come Back on Three Occasions
SC Freiburg showed resilience on Sunday when they took on Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga. Freiburg fell behind on three occasions and each time, they managed to get an equalizer.
Omar Marmoush cut up Freiburg’s defense to the tune of a goal and two assists but Ritsu Doan, Vincenzo Grifo and Michael Gregoritsch all got on the scoresheet for the hosts. The match finished 3-3 and Freiburg broke their three game Bundesliga losing streak.
Freiburg were dominant in some of their Europa League fixtures but that hasn’t translated to the Bundesliga this season. They picked up 5-0 home wins vs both Olympiacos and Bačka Topola earlier this season. However, Freiburg have won just five of their 11 Bundesliga home matches.
Still, they have proven they can go and get goals when they need them and they have a decent shot to qualify for the round of 16 here.
Christian Streich has a few injuries to manage, as all of Matthias Ginter, Philipp Lienhart and Yannik Keitel are out. Grifo didn’t start last week vs Lens but he’s Freiburg’s leading scorer this season.
The Italian is a set piece specialist and he registered four goals and two assists in the group stage Europa League stats. Doan is another player to watch, as the Japanese international is one of the few Freiburg players that can create something out of nothing.
Lens Not Finishing Their Chances
Lens have conceded just two goals in their last five matches overall and are unbeaten during that time. On Sunday, they went to Reims in a Ligue 1 match.
Stade De Reims, without a win for over a month, got on the scoresheet first. There wasn’t too much the Lens defenders could do about Junya Ito’s well-placed cross to Oumar Diakite. Lens equalized just before halftime as Przemyslaw Frankowski found Wesley Said’s head.
Both teams combined for just three shots on target but each missed golden opportunities to go ahead in the second half. The match finished level at one and Lens are just four points off of second place in Ligue 1. Still, consistency has been an issue for them and they hold a 10-6-6 record domestically.
Their finishing has been conspicuously off over the last couple of games and Franck Haise will need a better showing from his UEL players on Thursday. Elye Wahi signed for Lens for a club record fee last Summer and it’s the striker’s time to shine.
He’s managed just five goals for Lens, in all competitions, but this is a massive opportunity for the 21-year old. Florian Sotoca has been Lens’ most consistent attacking player, with five goals and six assists overall.
Match Analysis & Odds
SC Freiburg have conceded three goals in four of their last five matches overall. Meanwhile, Lens have scored just once in their last two games ahead of Thursday’s decisive Europa League clash.
The Freiburg vs Lens lines price hosts Freiburg as +125 favorites to win in 90 minutes, while Lens are +210 underdogs. Freiburg are winless in their last five games and they’ve been unable to find any kind of consistency this UEL season.
Lens head into this one with just one loss in their last five road games and they could certainly make this one a game. Don’t be surprised if this fixture heads into extra time and a second straight draw shows +250 odds. Meanwhile, Freiburg pk, -0.5 displays -115 odds and Lens pk, +0.5 also stands at -115.
Seven of Freiburg’s last nine matches have finished with three or more goals. Meanwhile, just three of Lens’ last 11 matches have finished with three or more.
Last week’s match finished scoreless and both over and under 2.5 goals show -115 Europa League betting odds here. Expect Lens to be well-drilled as they try to avoid conceding. Freiburg are -145 favorites to qualify overall and Lens are +115 underdogs to go through to the round of 16.
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