Lens vs Toulouse Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Lens are looking to kick on in 2025 after bedding into the Will Still era with the northerners now taking on a Toulouse side that have massively improved since a slow start to the campaign.
Kick-off date/time: Sunday 5th January, 2025: UK – 2:00pm / US ET – 9:00am / US PT – 6:00am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports
Lens Preview: Still Will Still at Lens
English-Belgian coach Will Still has performed well in the opening half of his first campaign in charge of Lens but it will only be seen that way in the long-term if they kick on from the steady start to move towards the top four and the UEFA Champions League spots in Ligue 1.
The northerners have suffered just three defeats in their opening 15 matches with six victories and six draws in their other 12 matches. Their most recent outing saw them suffer a penalty shootout loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Coupe de France before the winter break
Toulouse Preview: Toulouse improving
Toulouse begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting tucked inside the top-half in Ligue 1 after a slow-ish start to the campaign turned into what was quite a bright opening few months still under the management of Spanish coach Carlos Martinez Novell.
The visitors needed penalties to defeat lower league Hauts Lyonnais in the Round of 64 of the Coupe de France a few weeks ago. They have now suffered just two defeats in their last nine matches across all competitions and those losses have come against PSG and Monaco.
Lens Team News: Khusanov suspension
Reported Manchester City defensive target Uzbekistan international Abdukodir Khusanov is missing through suspension for this weekend, whilst attacker Martin Satriano is sidelined due to a knee injury.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Samba; Frankowski, Danso, Deiver Machado, Medina; Thomasson, El Aynaoui; Lascary, Fulgini, Zaroury; Nzola
Unavailable: Khusanov (Suspended), Satriano (Injured)
Questionable: Gradit (Injured), Aguilar (Injured), Said (Injured)
Toulouse Team News: Schmidt suspension
Niklas Schmidt is a key first-team absentee for Toulouse this weekend as they make the trip north to Lens due to suspension. Defender Rasmus Nicolaisen is also an injury doubt after missing pretty much the entirety of the first section of the campaign.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Restes; Sidibe, Cresswell, McKenzie; Donnum, Cristian Casseres Jr, Sierro, Suazo; Babicka, Aboukhlal; King
Unavailable: Schmidt (Suspended)
Questionable: Nicolaisen (Injured)
Lens vs Toulouse Prediction
Will Still’s style of football can often be quite frustrating to watch as they remain just outside of the European spots. They have, though, seemingly built a platform from which they can launch themselves right towards the upper echelons of the Ligue 1 table. They now face a Toulouse side that are playing a progressive and proactive style of football with controlled possession so this one may end up being surprisingly entertaining for the neutral this weekend.
Lens vs Toulouse Tip: Both teams to score
