Lens vs Nice Prediction, 1/23/2021 Ligue 1 Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

by Josh Schonwald - 1/20/2021

Game: Lens vs Nice

Date: Saturday, January 23, 2021

Location: Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, France

TV: DAZN

Odds/Point Spread: Lens (+299) Nice (+256)

Gael Kakuta and Lens (8-4-7, 10th in Ligue 1) play Nice (6-5-8, 14th in Ligue 1) at Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Saturday. The goalkeepers who are expected to start will be Jean-Louis Leca for Lens and Walter Benitez for Nice. The line on this matchup has Lens coming in at +299 and Nice are priced at +256. The over/under opens at 2.25.

Lens played Nantes in their most recent match and earned a one point draw by a score of 1-1. Lens attempted 18 dribbles in this match and completed 13 of the tries for a percentage of 72.2%. When talking about passing the ball, they finished with a 84.7% passes received percentage by completing 453 of the 535 passing attempts in their last game. Regarding shot accuracy, Lens walked away from the pitch at a 11.1% clip by putting 1 shot on target of 9 shots. Lens averages 1.42 goals per 90 minutes (27 goals in total) and have racked up 18 assists in all competitions for the season.

Gael Kakuta is one guy you are going to want to keep your eye on for Lens. Kakuta has had a starting assignment in 182 games so far in his pro soccer career and accounts for 0.19 goals per 90. The forward born in France has 33 goals scored in 15,818 professional minutes played. He has 30 assists while tallying 15 yellow cards during his career. One more player who could decide who wins is Florian Sotoca, the forward born in France. Sotoca has accumulated 6,741 minutes during 77 starting assignments and has been given a total of 10 yellow card cautions. He has assisted on a goal 14 times in his career while scoring 25 total goals. He is currently averaging 0.33 goals per 90 during his career.

The man who is expected to defend the goal for Lens is Jean-Louis Leca. Leca (81-45-66 record during his soccer career) has earned 71 clean sheets, which has earned him a 36.6% shutout rate. The goalie born in France has faced 593 shots attempted at him in 194 starting assignments. His goals against per 90 mins is 1.06 (203 total goals allowed) and he is the owner of a save percentage of .723. Leca has been on the field for 17,254 minutes and has 426 saves so far in his career.

When they last played, Nice took a loss by a score of 3-0 against Bordeaux. They finished the contest by converting 409 of the 447 attempted passes for a rate of 91.5%. Nice had a 58.8% successful dribble percentage by connecting on 10 out of the 17 dribbles they pursued. Nice converted 1 shot on target out of 10 shots attempted giving them a 10.0% rate when they last stepped onto the pitch. With 22 goals and 13 assists for all their games, Nice is averaging 1.16 goals and 0.68 assists per 90.

Alexis Claude-Maurice will need to be on top of his game for Nice. The midfielder representing France has been on the field for 5,970 mins and has scored 20 goals. He has collected 6 yellow card cautions in his career and has assisted a teammate on a goal 6 times. He scores 0.30 goals per 90 and has been given a starting assignment in 65 matches so far in his pro soccer career. Be sure to keep an eye out for Amine Gouiri, the forward hailing from France. He has scored 6 goals in his pro soccer career while assisting on a goal 3 times. Gouiri has been given a total of 4 yellow cards in 1,557 mins (16 career starts). His goals per 90 minute average during his soccer career is 0.35.

Walter Benitez will be residing in front of the net for Nice. Benitez has totaled 46 clean sheets and has defended 568 shots against him in 13,535 minutes throughout his career. He has a save percentage of .736 and his clean sheet rate is 30.7%. He has conceded 1.28 goals per 90 mins and he has a record of 55-44-51. During his professional soccer career, Benitez has allowed 167 goals and has 421 saves in 150 starting assignments.

Who will win tonight's Ligue 1 game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Lens (+299)

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Lens vs Nice Prediction, 1/23/2021 Ligue 1 Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

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