Toulouse – Lens : Preview & Prediction
After their surprise victory in the Coupe de France, Toulouse will be hoping that their return to league action will allow them to continue their joy. “Le Téfécé” lifted their first major title by beating Nantes 5-1 in Saturday’s final, a result that Philippe Montanier said would “go down in the history of the competition.”
The coach will now be desperate for his side to use that momentum to finish in the top half of the standings in Ligue 1 for the first time since 2013/14. That would cap an already remarkable campaign for a club that managed to return to the top flight last summer, although worryingly they have lost their last four league games at home, with seven of the eight goals they conceded during that run coming after halftime.
Toulouse may struggle to end their poor form against Lens, who have won their last three meetings between them, including a 3-0 result in October when Loïs Openda scored a second-half hat-trick. Franck Haise’s side will also arrive at the Stadium de Toulouse full of confidence after a run of five wins in their last six matches (P1) that has kept them in the hunt for a top-three finish in the standings.
The most recent of those wins was a 3-0 thrashing of fourth-placed Monaco, which Haise described as “our best game of the season.” That win means his side is expected to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years, although they could do with a few more wins away from home after picking up just two in their last nine away league games (E5, P2).
Players to watch: Six of Thijs Dallinga’s last eight league scoring appearances for Toulouse have seen him score first or last. He will be hoping to extend that record against visiting goalkeeper Brice Samba, who is unbeaten in his three previous meetings with “Le Téfécé” (G2, E1), keeping one clean sheet in the process.
Key stat: Lens have not lost a single Ligue 1 match this season in which they have scored the opening goal (G18, E3).
Toulouse – Lens : Betting Tips
Lens – Win Odds: 1.75
