Our prediction for this Ligue 1 match:
Nice
Match Time & Date:
22/12/2021
21:00
Prediction: 2-1
Lens
Nice play host to Lens at their Allianz Riviera in what is expected to be an interesting Ligue 1 game. Les Aiglons did well to eliminated Cholet in the Coupe de France last 64, and they are now on a quest to climb to the Champions League berth in the Ligue 1 standings. Denmark attacker Kasper Dolberg returns to the starting XI, while defender Robson Bambu remains in the recovery room. Lens, on the other hand, are enjoying yet another successful season, with the team occupying 6th place in the standings ahead of the trip to Nice.
Les Sang et Or, though, suffered a dip in form, and given their anything but good display in a 3-2 loss at Nantes, we are tempted to put our money on les Aiglons this time out. Facundo Medina is sidelined through suspension, while all Gael Kakuta, Wesley Said, and Deiver Machado are out of contention with injuries for the visiting side.
Highlighted Player (Kasper Dolberg):
Standing at 6ft 2-inches, the tall forward kicked-off his youth career with GFG Voel in Denmark in 2005 and spent five years with them before joining hometown club Silkeborg IF at the age of 13. At Silkeborg, Dolberg quickly rose through the ranks and made his professional debut on the 17th of May, 2015, as a 66th substitute against Brondby in the Danish Superliga.
At the start of the 16/17 season, Dolberg signed for Eredivisie giants AFC Ajax on a three-year deal after impressing the clubs' renowned scouting network. He scored his first professional goal on the 26th of July, 2016, in Ajax's 1-1 draw with PAOK Thessaloniki in a UEFA Champions League Qualifier match. In what was a prolific spell at de Godenzonen, Dolberg made 119 appearances and scored 45 goals for the club. Born on the 6th of October, 1997, the 22-year-old is currently on a five-year contract with French club Nice that in August 2019.
Dolberg is additionally a former Denmark youth International, having represented his country at every youth level. For the senior team, the striker made his debut on the 11th of November, 2016, and has earned 13 caps so far.
Highlighted Team (Lens):
Based in the Pas-De-Calais department, Lens is a French club that plays home games at Stade Bollaert-Delelis. The Sang et Or are well known for their red shirts with yellow stripes, while black is the dominant colour of their away jersey.
The club was founded back in 1906 and the Sang et Or originally played in green and black shirts. Speaking of their home ground, Stade Bollaert-Delelis can hold up to 38,058 spectators. The venue was opened back in 1933, and renovated during the 2014/15 season. Lens did well to win the Ligue 1 trophy in the 1997/98 season, with the team finishing the process level on points with second-place Metz.
As a result, the Sang et Or represented France in the Champions League group stages the following season. The club’s biggest European success came in the 1999/00 season when they made it to the UEFA Cup semis. Lens have won two Coupe de la Ligue trophies as well.
