Their current form, their tactical approach and the players to watch. Everything you need to know about Jean-Pierre Papin’s side before OM-Lens.

Their current form
After a mixed start to the season, RC Lens, currently 15tgh on the league table, seem to be on the comeback trail. Jean-Pierre Papin’s men are coming off a league win against Auxerre (2-0) and a Coupe de la Ligue qualification against Lille (1-0). On the road, the best Lens has done is to get a point against Toulouse (1-1). However, they lost heavily to Lyon at Gerland (3-0) in round 3. The Sang et Or are still recovering.

Their tactical approach
Since taking the reins at RC Lens, Jean-Pierre Papin has stuck with a fairly normal 4-4-2, even though the polyvalence of several players offers the man from the North a few more options.
On Sunday against OM, most of the players who beat Auxerre should be retained, despite the late return of the internationals. Vedran Runje, former OM keeper, will be in goals for Lens. In defence, Coulibaly and Bisevac will be paired in central defence. Laurenti and Aubey (Ramos is still uncertain) will take care of the flanks, while in the middle, Jean-Pierre Papin has several options. Kovacevic seems indispensable in the Lens set-up. Alongside him, there should be Mangane, who scored against Auxerre, as well as Julien Sablé, who started against Lille in the Coupe de la Ligue. Monterrubio and Boukari will play wide and be charged with supplying the Pieroni-Dindane attacking duo.

Players to watch
Kovacevic: He has played in every match this season, under guy Roux and Jean-Pierre Papin. Nenad Kovacevic is the centrepiece of the Lens midfield and will be key in this match, as he wins the majority of balls in the Lens midfield. The duel between the Serb and Lorik Cana should be interesting.

Monterrubio: he scored against Toulouse and has also played in every match this season. An excellent winger, capable of delivering balls perfectly for his strikers, Monterrubio will have to be watched very closely by the OM wingbacks.