Lens vs Toulouse prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2025-01-04 14:00.
[p]Lens brought the curtain down on 2024 with a penalty-shootout defeat to PSG in the Coupe de France, but Will Still’s side can reflect fondly on an end to the year which saw them win three of their last five Ligue 1 games (D1, L1). Only kept out of the European spots on goal difference before this round of fixtures, they must now make home advantage count more often, having won just three of their seven league matches at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis this season (D2, L2).[/p]
[p]Taking on Toulouse this weekend would appear to bode well for Lens, with Sunday’s hosts having won all of the pair’s last six Ligue 1 H2Hs at any venue dating back to 2014, recording five clean sheets in that sequence. Another victory here would see the Blood and Gold create history by establishing their longest-ever winning streak in the top flight against a single opponent.[/p]
[p]Toulouse though, like Lens, are a side in form, having won five of their last seven league games (L2) in 2024 – results which have pushed them up to eighth in the table ahead of the weekend. With a spot in the last 32 of the Coupe de France also secured prior to the New Year, they begin this round of matches only three points off the top six in Ligue 1, and have started to dream of a return to Europe.[/p]
[p]Carles MartĂnez Novell’s men have conceded just 17 league goals so far this term, although ten of those have come on their travels, with eight of the ten arriving in the second half! If they’re to make that European dream a reality, there’s no doubt that they’ll need to tighten things up defensively on the road, with four defeats from seven such games in Ligue 1 this season (W2, D1).[/p]
[p]Key battle: Lens goalkeeper Brice Samba is unbeaten in six career meetings with Toulouse (W5, D1), recording three clean sheets in the process. Attempting to score against him this weekend will likely be Shavy Babicka, who has netted all four of his goals so far this term after half-time. [/p]
[p]Hot streak: Seven of Toulouse’s last eight matches in all competitions have seen one team record a clean sheet.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Ben Olawumi[/i][/p]