With both clubs chasing European football, Toulouse travel to Lens on Sunday, hoping to turn their fortunes around against the Pas-de-Calais outfit. Read on for our Lens vs Toulouse predictions and more.
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Lens vs Toulouse prediction: Can Toulouse beat their hosts for the first time in 14 years?
Key facts:
- Lens have dominated this fixture in recent years, and last lost to Toulouse back in 2011.
- Lens have kept the most clean sheets in the competition.
- Only PSG have more points in their last five than the hosts.
- Toulouse have only seen 34 goals in their matches this season, Lens have only seen 33.
Correct score prediction: Lens 1-0 Toulouse
We're back Lens to continue their dominance over their visitors, and make it seven wins in a row in this fixture. Will Still's side have been near air-tight at the back, and we think they'll shut Toulouse out.
The visitors are no pushovers though, and boast a strong defensive record of their own, meaning this will likely be a tight, low-scoring affair.
Pre-game odds and win probability:
- HOME: 10/11 (1.91) – 52.4%
- DRAW: 12/5 (3.40) – 29.4%
- AWAY: 3/1 (4.00) – 25.0%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
Lens are the expected winners of this game with a win probability of 52.4%, and we can't argue with the bookmakers on this one.
Once you've finished digesting our preview of this fixture, feel free to check out our other football betting tips.
Recent H2Hs: One-way traffic
As detailed above, Lens have had the upper hand in this fixture for some time, winning all of their last six meetings.
France Ligue 1 28/01/24
Toulouse
Lens
France Ligue 1 24/09/23
Lens
Toulouse
France Ligue 1 02/05/23
Toulouse
Lens
France Ligue 1 28/10/22
Lens
Toulouse
France Ligue 1 14/03/15
Lens
Toulouse
Lens preview: Shop window
Despite a solid season under new manager Still, Lens are reportedly preparing to sell one of Kevin Danso or Abdukodir Khusanov this January to balance the books.
The latter is suspended for this game, following a ban from the FFF for ill-discipline in last month's 1-1 draw with PSG.
Lens will look to pick up where they left off before the winter break, where they had won three and drawn once in their last five.
Predicted lineup: Samba (GK), Frankowski, Danso, Gradit, Medina, Thomasson, El-Aynaoui, Lascary, Fulgini, Zaroury, Nzola
France Ligue 1 10/05/25
D
Toulouse
1
Lens
1
France Ligue 1 04/05/25
W
Lyon
1
Lens
2
France Ligue 1 27/04/25
L
Auxerre
4
Lens
0
France Ligue 1 20/04/25
W
Brest
1
Lens
3
France Ligue 1 11/04/25
L
Reims
2
Lens
0
Toulouse preview: Going steady
Since their 2022 return to Ligue 1 after two seasons away, Toulouse have re-established themselves as a solid top-flight presence.
They are just inside the top half coming into this one, largely thanks to a solid defensive record.
Like Lens, they will hope to pick up where they left off, with their final Ligue 1 fixture of 2024 delivering a 2-1 win over Saint-Etienne.
Predicted lineup: Restes (GK), Sidibe, Cresswell, McKenzie, Donnum, Casseres Jr., Sierro, Suazo, Babicka, Aboukhlal, King
France Ligue 1 10/05/25
D
Lens
1
Toulouse
1
France Ligue 1 03/05/25
W
Rennes
1
Toulouse
2
France Ligue 1 27/04/25
D
Nantes
0
Toulouse
0
France Ligue 1 20/04/25
L
Reims
1
Toulouse
0
France Ligue 1 12/04/25
L
Lille
2
Toulouse
1
Player to watch: M'Bala Nzola
Lens had a large, Elye Wahi shaped hole to fill this summer, with the 21-year-old departing for Marseille this summer.
After a slow start, summer signing M'Bala Nzola has stepped up to the plate, with two goals and an assist in his final three Ligue 1 games of 2024.