It’s time for another set of Ligue 1 fixtures as we approach the seemingly never-ending month of January. There’s still so much to play for at both ends of the table and while some paths are clearer than others, French football’s top tier feels as unpredictable as it has in a long time. Today, we’re going to take a look at what should be a thrilling clash between Toulouse and Lens.
Toulouse Form GuideToulouse finished last season with a pretty below-par spot in the Ligue 1 table but alongside that, they were also able to capture the Coupe de France trophy in convincing fashion. That means they have European football to focus on from this month onwards but for the time being, they’ll want to build up some sustainability and credibility in French football’s top tier.
Following a goalless draw with Rennes, Toulouse were beaten by Monaco and PSG - the latter being in the Super Cup. From there, they beat SO Chambery in the cup, beat Metz in the league, and then lost a stunning penalty shootout 12-11 to FC Rouen in the cup.
Lens Form GuideLast season, Lens truly did push PSG every step of the way in the title race and that’s a huge credit to how much hard work they’ve been putting in as a club in recent years. They were just one point away from springing an upset and for them, that’s a big takeaway. Now, though, they need to re-focus, because they’re certainly good enough to push for Europe again.
Following a 0-0 draw with Montpellier, Lens bounced back with wins over Sevilla and Reims. They slipped to defeat against Nice, got knocked out of the cup by Monaco on penalties, and proceeded to drop a 2-0 loss at home to league leaders PSG.
Match PredictionThere’s a certain inconsistency between both teams that leaves us believing this game is going to be a bit of a meddling mess. They both have quality in their ranks but we think they’re going to somewhat cancel each other out, which is why we’re predicting a draw.
