Preview: Toulouse vs. Lens
Lens will be bidding to continue their pursuit of an automatic spot in next season’s Champions League when they resume their Ligue 1 campaign away to Coupe de France winners Toulouse on Tuesday night.
The visitors are currently third in the table, one point behind second-placed Marseille, while Toulouse are 12th, boasting 41 points from their 32 league matches this season.
Toulouse secured a return to Ligue 1 by winning Ligue 2 last season, so consolidating back at this level was always going to be their number one priority for the 2022-23 campaign.
Le Tef have had a solid season, picking up 41 points from 32 matches, which has left them in 12th position in the table, nine points clear of the relegation zone heading into the final straight.
Philippe Montanier’s side won the Coupe de France in spectacular fashion on Saturday night, lifting their first major trophy courtesy of a 5-1 victory over Nantes, with Logan Costa and Thijs Dallinga both finding the back of the net twice in a stunning performance at Stade de France.
Toulouse have also won two of their last three Ligue 1 matches, including a 1-0 success over Lorient on April 23, which proved to be their 12th league victory of the campaign.
Les Violets have faced Lens on 49 occasions throughout history, winning 17 of those matches, but they have lost their last three against Tuesday’s opponents, including a 3-0 defeat in the reverse game earlier this season.
Preview: Toulouse vs. Lens – prediction, team news, lineups
Lens, meanwhile, will enter the match off the back of an impressive 3-0 victory over Monaco, with Lois Openda netting twice and Adrien Thomasson also registering for the home side.
A total of 66 points from 32 matches has left Franck Haise’s side in third position in the table, one point behind second-placed Marseille and five clear of fourth-placed Monaco.
As it stands, Lens will qualify for the third qualifying round of the Champions League, with only the top two in France automatically advancing to the group stage of the competition.
Les Sang et Or have not competed in the group stage of the Champions League since the 2002-03 campaign, so it would be a huge achievement for the club to qualify this season, and an impressive run of form has seen them win five of their last six league games.
Lens have the best home form in Ligue 1 this season, picking up 43 points from 16 matches, but they have found it more difficult on their travels, claiming 23 points from 16 matches.
Toulouse Ligue 1 form:
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Toulouse form (all competitions):
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Lens Ligue 1 form:
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We say: Toulouse 1-1 Lens
Both teams are in excellent form, which should create a fascinating match on Tuesday evening. Lens are in desperate need of all three points to continue their push for a top-two position, but Toulouse will also be full of confidence, so we have had to settle on a draw in this contest.