Lens vs Nice Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 French Ligue 1
THE FACTS
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
When is Lens vs Nice on and what time does it start? Lens vs Nice will take place on Saturday 16th March, 2024 – 20:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Lens vs Nice? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Lens vs Nice on in the UK? TNT Sports have the rights to Ligue 1 matches in the UK, so it is worth checking their schedule for Lens vs Nice
Where can I stream Lens vs Nice in the UK? If Lens vs Nice is televised on TNT Sports, then subscribers can stream the match live on discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
LENS
Coached by Franck Haise, last season’s Ligue 1 runners’ up Lens began this season really poorly but since mid-September they have risen back to being one of the strongest teams in the country and are back in contention for a top three finish and potential UEFA Champions League qualification this season.
The northerners come into this one on the back of edging past Stade Brest by a goal to nil in their most recent outing last weekend with a 32nd minute winning goal scored by Ruben Aguilar. Lens have suffered just one defeat in their last seven Ligue 1 outings and just three losses in their last 20 since that aforementioned slow start.
NICE
After the fairly contentious and unexpected appointment of the inexperienced Francesco Farioli, Nice have performed well but with too much caution that has limited their attacking capabilities and productivity with that becoming a major issue recently as they slip away from the very top-of-the-table and any sort of title challenge.
In 25 matches so far this season in Ligue 1, Nice have scored just 24 goals and they come into this one on the back of yet another defeat as Paris Saint-Germain defeated them by three goals to one in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France in midweek. The southerners have collected just two points from their last six league games.
THE TEAM NEWS
LENS
Lens have several injury concerns for this weekend’s visit of Nice as Massadio Haidara, Deiver Machado, Jimmy Cabot and Jimmy Chavez are unavailable.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-1-2): Samba; Gradit, Danso, Medina; Aguilar, Diouf, El Aynaoui, Khusanov; Costa; Sotoca, Wahi
UNAVAILABLE: Chavez (Injured), Haidara (Injured), Machado (Injured), Cabot (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
NICE
Nice have a couple of injury concerns for this weekend’s long trip north to Lens as Valentin Rosier and midfielder Sofiane Diop are unavailable for this one.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Bulka; Todibo, Rosario, Dante; Lotomba, Boudaoui, Thuram, Bard; Laborde, Boga; Moffi
UNAVAILABLE: Rosier (Injured), Diop (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
These two teams have been trending in the opposite direction for the last few months with Lens slowly recovering from the sales of key men such as Seko Fofana and Lois Openda, whilst Nice’s general overperformance at the start of the campaign has drifted and they are now sliding down the table. Given the form of the two sides, as well as their home advantage, backing Lens is the way to go for this one on Saturday evening.
TIP: LENS TO WIN
