- Home form: OGC Nice have won just four of their 15 home games in Ligue 1, drawing six and losing five.
- Away form: RC Lens have won seven, drawn three and lost five of their 15 away Ligue 1 games, averaging 1.73 goals per game scored and 1.40 conceded.
- Top scorers: Sofiane Diop has scored seven goals in 30 Ligue 1 games in 2025-26, but Odsonne Edouard (12 goals in 26 games) has scored more.
Lens can edge out a draw specialist in Nice
Opportunity for Lens
RC Lens can take advantage of a disjointed and unconvincing OGC Nice side to claim a key victory in their battle for top of the table on Saturday.
Nice's situation
The hosts, who are 15th in Ligue 1 2025-2026 with 30 points from 31 games, have been in transition since Claude Puel took charge in December 2025. His pragmatic approach has brought a much-needed sense of stability to the squad, but their recent run of one win, three draws and one defeat in their last five in all competitions has left them far from secure.
They did record a 2-0 away win against Racing Club Strasbourg in the Coupe de France earlier this month and then drew 1-1 away at Olympique Marseille in the league. But Lens will be a much sterner test of their improvement on Saturday.
Tactical contrast makes for fascinating clash
Visitors' approach
Lens boss Pierre Sage was appointed in July 2025 and his aggressive pressing game has helped lift his side to second in Ligue 1 with 63 points from 30 matches. They have been very consistent all season long and arrive here having won three, drawn one and lost only one of their last five.
The visitors’ 4-1 win over FC Toulouse in the previous round of the Coupe de France was followed by a 3-3 draw at Stade Brestois 29 in Ligue 1 that was as thrilling a game as you will see in the division. The Sang et Or use a 3-4-3 system with a high pressing game to disrupt opponents, but their ability to hit with pace on the counter and create width makes them hard to pin down.
Puel’s approach has been the antithesis of that as he has organised his players into a compact, disciplined shape that manages the tempo of the game and presses selectively when they can be effective. It is a tactic that has served them well, but Lens’ firepower and pressing should have them win this game.
- The visitors’ 4-1 win over FC Toulouse in the previous round of the Coupe de France was followed by a 3-3 draw at Stade Brestois 29 in Ligue 1 that was as thrilling a game as you will see in the division.
- The Sang et Or use a 3-4-3 system with a high pressing game to disrupt opponents, but their ability to hit with pace on the counter and create width makes them hard to pin down.
- Puel’s approach has been the antithesis of that as he has organised his players into a compact, disciplined shape that manages the tempo of the game and presses selectively when they can be effective.
Expect an open matchup
Lens to win at 1.8 is our main selection for this clash with a lot of value on offer for the visitors, who have failed to win on their two previous visits to Nice. However, we also think there will be a few goals in this Ligue 1 showdown with both teams to score taken at 1.53 for insurance.
Over 2.5 goals is a shade favourite at 1.51 and there may be a chance for both teams to get on the scoresheet in a very entertaining game. In the recent head-to-head, Lens have won one of the last five against Nice, who have won three, and one has finished as a tie.
