Lens vs Nice prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2025-12-13 16:15.
[p]Two sides in contrasting form meet here as shock pre-round league leaders Lens host crisis club Nice, who are tumbling down the Ligue 1 table.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Ligue 1’s biggest surprise package Lens continue to impress, securing a 2-1 win at Nantes last time out to keep PSG at bay and begin this weekend with a one-point lead at the top of the Ligue 1 table. The Blood and Gold have won each of their last five games and another victory here would mark the first time they’ve ever amassed 12 victories in their opening 16 Ligue 1 games. Their last three wins coming by one-goal margins highlight that Pierre Sage’s side know how to grind out tough wins, and that’s especially true at home where they’ve won six successive home games since an opening day loss to Lyon. [/p]
[p]Nice stand alone as the only side in Ligue 1 to have lost their last five league outings, but their troubles aren’t limited to domestic action as their elimination from the UEFA Europa League was confirmed on Thursday by a 1-0 defeat to Braga – their sixth defeat in as many games in that competition. The Eagles have failed to score in their two games since the ill-fated 3-1 defeat to Lorient that was followed by an attack on the team bus, and start this round a lowly 12th – closer to the drop zone than the top-six. [/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]Lens have won just one of their last 11 Ligue 1 H2Hs (D2, L8), suffering more defeats against Nice since their return to the top-flight in 2020/21 (seven) than any other opponent.[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Lens are the only side yet to drop a single point from a winning position in Ligue 1 this season.[/p]
[p]Lens have scored nine unanswered goals after half-time in Ligue 1 home games this term.[/p]
[p]Nice are the only team yet to gain a single Ligue 1 point after trailing.[/p]
[p]Nice are one of just two teams across Europe’s top-five leagues to not have kept an away league clean sheet in 2025.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Matthieu Udol’s importance to Lens’ attack continues to grow, with the defender registering three assists across his last five league matches. Mohamed-Ali Cho was booked and provided an assist in the last H2H (W 2-0), but his three Nice goals this term all came in defeats.[/p]
[p]Lens aren’t currently reporting any fresh injury concerns, while Tom Louchet’s red card for Nice against Angers last week means he’s suspended for this one. [/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]With these two sitting at opposite ends of the form table, backing Lens to win by a -2 handicap looks to be the smartest route to take. [/p]
[p][i]Author: David H[/i][/p]