RC Lens vs OGC Nice Prediction 16.03.2024

• Competition: France - Ligue 1
• Date: Saturday, 16th, March 2024
• Kickoff: 20:00 UTC / 21.00 CET
• Venue: Stade Bollaert-Delelis (Lens)

Revived RC Lens is eager to continue its push towards Champions League spots as it hosts crisis-ridden OGC Nice at Stade Bollaert-Delelis in the 26th round of Ligue 1 on Saturday.

RC Lens vs OGC Nice Betting Tips: Lens to Win

Despite being unable to receive instructions from their head coach Franck Haise, who was banished to the "sin bin" due to suspension, RC Lens discovered a path to essential three points against this season's surprise package Brest on their home turf, as Ruben Aguilar's header separated the two sides in a slender 1-0 victory.

Having moved up to fifth position with their most recent success, overtaking Saturday's stumbling rivals and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with LOSC Lille in fourth, who hold the ticket to Champions League qualifiers, last season's Ligue 1 vice champions will strive to maintain a 100% record in March to continue their chase for automatic UCL berths.

Tightening their defensive discipline has been a noticeable trend for Les Sang et Or of late, best exemplified by the fact that four of their last five victories have involved shutouts, including both this month, as the northern French outfit aims to replicate the same against OGC Nice, a side they have held scoreless in six of their last eight meetings at home.

Furthermore, the question arises whether the team from the Azure Coast currently possesses the capacity to unsettle the rejuvenated RC Lens, as since they blew away Montpellier in the Coupe de France last-16 clash with a devastating 4-1 scoreline, Les Aiglons have failed to come out on top in any contest out of the last six, suffering loss on six occasions in the process.

While locking down a top-four finish in the domestic campaign still remains within reach, OGC Nice's road form appears alarmingly dismal, considering they've managed to pocket a meager two points out of the available 21 from their previous seven Ligue 1 trips, not to mention finding the back of the opponent's net only twice during that time.

The struggles in the final third of the pitch have become characteristic for Francesco Farioli's side this term, as they share the poorest goal-scoring record in the French top-flight alongside Nantes, entering the scoreboard a miserable nine times in 12 away fixtures so far. With RC Lens also lacking sparkle in attack, coupled with the fact that there have been fewer than two goals in each of their last three H2H face-offs, it appears that a solitary goal could make all the difference between the two Champions League contenders.