Nice vs Lens prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2025-02-07 16:00.
[p]Two teams who currently occupy the final two European places in Ligue 1 clash on the French south coast as Nice take on Lens. The hosts will be looking to continue their recent dominance in this fixture, which has seen them win seven of their last ten H2Hs overall (D2, L1) and lose only one of 13 league meetings at home since the turn of the century![/p]
[p]Currently sitting in fifth place, the same position where they finished last season and one point ahead of their opponents, Nice are one of two sides in Ligue 1 who come into this weekend unbeaten at home this term (W6, D3). This is something which their manager Franck Haise must take significant credit for, as the Eaglets had lost four of their seven most recent league matches (W2, D1) at the Allianz Riviera before he took over in the summer.[/p]
[p]Haise arrived directly from Lens, who he had led to a seventh-placed finish in 2023/24, and after 20 games of this league campaign, his replacement Will Still is doing a fine job of continuing his work. Victory in this clash will make it three successive wins, with the last two accompanied by clean sheets against Angers and Montpellier, both of whom had been enjoying an upturn in form themselves. [/p]
[p]Still is yet to see his side pick up three Ligue 1 victories on the bounce, but if they are able to achieve that here, it would make for a remarkable coincidence, as the last time Lens managed that feat was across the same rounds, 19 to 21, last season! And with their only defeat in ten league away games this term (W5, D4) coming at runaway leaders PSG (1-0), the Blood and Gold shouldn’t be short of confidence ahead of their long trip south. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Gaëtan Laborde has scored six times in his last seven Ligue 1 matches, but he is yet to find the net against Lens at home, with all four of his previous goals against them coming at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis. M’Bala Nzola is another in-form striker, netting two goals from his last three games, and he has been particularly potent in away fixtures, where five of his last six league strikes have come.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Lens have scored exactly two goals in six of their last seven away matches.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Tom Penn[/i][/p]