FC Toulouse vs RC Lens Best odds and tips

RC Lens are in cracking away form and will arrive in Toulouse with enough momentum to take the points in Saturday’s Ligue 1 fixture against a home side that have been up and down this season. Lens have won three of their last five Ligue 1 fixtures, but their last game was a shock 0-4 home defeat to Auxerre ten days ago. The Sang et Or bounced back with a 2-1 away win over Lyon three days ago, so they are in good shape to beat Toulouse. Will Still took over as Lens manager in June 2024 and has quickly instilled a high-energy, high-press philosophy in the club’s playing style. Lens’ 3-4-2-1 or 3-5-2 formation is fluid and they use their adventurous wing-backs to get forward in numbers, while the pressing and counter-attacking style suits the attributes of their players. FC Toulouse are a disciplined, pragmatic team that plays a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation and have been much more solid than spectacular under Carles Martinez since he took over in July 2023. The Spaniard has built a team on solid defensive foundations and quick transitions, rather than possession or flair, which should make for an interesting tactical battle with Lens.

RC Lens are eighth in Ligue 1 2024-2025 with 48 points from 32 games while Toulouse are 12th with 38 points after the same number of matches. Both teams need every point in the run-in with Lens chasing European qualification and Toulouse hoping to avoid a late-season relegation battle. Lens are justifiable favourites for this fixture as they are in better shape, have superior away stats and need the win more. Toulouse beat Lens 1-0 away in the most recent Ligue 1 head-to-head meeting four months ago, but have not won in their last two home games against Lens. Toulouse ended a three-game winless run by beating Rennes 2-1 at home four days ago, which could be a launching pad for them to push on and finish mid-table. Toulouse have won five, drawn four and lost seven of their 16 Ligue 1 home fixtures, so they are inconsistent at Stadium de Toulouse.

Backing Lens to win and Over 2.5 goals at 1.82 could be a good play for those looking for an attack-minded bet in this fixture as the visitors’ high-energy style should ensure an open game. Toulouse have scored 19 goals in 16 home Ligue 1 fixtures, which is a modest total for a mid-table team, but they do have a reliable goalscorer in Zakaria Aboukhlal, who has seven goals in 24 Ligue 1 appearances this season. Lens have conceded just 16 goals in 16 away Ligue 1 fixtures, so it is clear that their strength is in defence. M’Bala Nzola has been Lens’ main goal threat this season with six goals in 21 Ligue 1 appearances, but the visitors have spread the goals around a bit more in recent weeks with midfielder Goduine Koyalipou scoring three of their last six in five fixtures. Adrien Thomasson is Lens’ most creative player with three assists in their last five Ligue 1 fixtures and could be a key player in this fixture.