Toulouse take on the visitors Lens in the round 17 match of French Ligue 1. The match will be played on Friday, January 2nd at Stadium de Toulouse (Toulouse).
Toulouse have managed to make noticeable progress this season. In 2023, after returning from the second division, Tefece won their first major trophy by lifting the national cup. Even so, in the summer of 2024 the club changed head coach, putting their faith in Carles Martínez Novell. The young Spaniard reached the Europa League playoffs, but in the domestic league Toulouse finished only tenth. Still, he kept his job and is largely proving that the trust was justified, as the team have clearly improved. In the league, after an unsuccessful spell, December brought back-to-back wins over Strasbourg (1-0 at home) and Paris (3-0 away). This allowed Toulouse to go into the break with 23 points, sharing seventh place. Just before the Christmas and New Year break, they also defeated their first cup opponent, Sporting Lyon. Recent results indicate growing confidence and stability, especially against strong opposition. The overall form suggests Toulouse are entering the second half of the season with positive momentum and belief.
| 2 x £10 Free Bet | Review | |||
| 100$-500$ for No Lose Free Bets | Review | |||
| 100% up to £200 | Review | |||
| Not available | Review |
Lens, after a long stay in the second division, had already finished as league runners-up in 2023. A downturn followed, and last season ended with only an eighth-place finish. After that, Pierre Sage took over as head coach in the summer, having made his name at Lyon. He immediately showed his potential, leading the team to frequent victories. From November onward, it was nothing but wins. This applied both to the cup, where before the break they beat modest Feignies-Aulnoye 3-1 away, and to Ligue 1, with six consecutive victories and nine wins in the last ten rounds. As a result, with 37 points Lens held on to first place in the current standings, even staying one point ahead of Paris. However, the real battle is still ahead, and starting the new year with a win is clearly important. Their recent form shows consistency and intensity that few rivals can currently match.
After six consecutive wins by Lens, 2025 brought a home defeat to Toulouse and a draw away. The visitors clearly have more motivation. The bet is on a Lens win with a handicap of 0.
Prediction for the match: Lens to win with 0.0 handicap.
