Getting 2025 off to a good start: this will be the mission of the Violets who ended 2024 with a victory in the Coupe de France obtained at the end of the penalty session.
36': good Toulouse cross captured by Koffi
After a sublime dribble from Gboho who eliminates his defender to find Suazo on his left side, the latter crosses but Koffi captures the ball in a very serene intervention.
33': Sidibé collapses in the Lens area
Djibril Sidibé falls at the edge of the area after a rough contact. Mr. Ben El Hadj does not flinch. No VAR intervention either. Sidibé, however, seemed to have been stepped on.
28' : McKenzie stops Nzola
The Toulouse defender gains the upper hand over his opposite number after a bitter duel. He takes a first advantage in this confrontation which could happen again during the meeting.
27': finally an interesting sequence for the Violets!
For the first time in the match, Carlos Martinez Novell's players managed to put their foot on the ball for an extended period. After a first blocked strike, the ball returned to the Lens area, without further success.
24': the Sang et Or have their foot on the ball
Lens currently has 70% possession. The TFC struggles to be clean in the recovery and loses its counter-attack balls too quickly.
17': two big missed opportunities for TFC
Aboukhlal pushes his ball too far and loses control to Koffi. Less than a minute later, after a good recovery, Suazo struck on goal in a very complex position. But this shot is dismissed by the Lensois goalkeeper with a sublime extension to the right of his goal.
14': Lens multiplies the situations in front of the Restes goal
A sublime exit from the Toulouse goalkeeper, two last-minute interventions and a blocked shot, that's what it took for the Violets not to concede a goal while the Sang et Or were pressing.
11': a free kick that achieves nothing
Following Creswell's foul, the Lensois obtained a free kick to the right of the Toulouse goal. The center does nothing.
10′ : carton jaune pour Charlie Creswell
The central defender already receives a yellow card for a nasty foul on Nzola. Bad news as he will play the rest of the match with a sword of Damocles hanging over his head.
8': yellow card for Frankowski
The Polish midfielder received a yellow card for a late tackle on Caceres who was trying to clear.
6': dangerous cross in the Toulouse area
The Lensois have had their foot on the ball for a few minutes and they manage to put together a great action. An outside cross from the left was almost caught by Nzola, who ultimately failed to control.
5': a well-contained Lensois attack.
Creswell puts his body in opposition to prevent Florian Sotoca from recovering a good ball sent deep by Nzola. The referee calls a foul on the Toulouse defender.
2': first situation for TFC
In a choppy start to the match, Toulouse put a first ball in the box. A fairly non-dangerous situation which ended with a soft header well captured by Koffi.
Let's go to Bollaert!
The Toulouse have just kicked off while the Lensois supporters are raising their voices to encourage their team. The match is played behind closed doors.
2:55 p.m. The players enter the pitch.
Both teams entered the field. Captains Suazo and Sotoca draw lots.
2:50 p.m. The Toulouse residents finally victorious against the best?
This season, TFC is doing wonders when it is the favorite but, against the big guys, it is not succeeding for the moment. In their last 7 championship matches, 5 victories. The two defeats came against PSG and Monaco, two teams on the podium. Quite a symbol!
2:35 p.m. The TFC to relaunch itself in the race for Europe?
Toulouse is in 9th place in Ligue 1 before the end of this 16th day. With 21 points, they are only one victory away from their opponents, 7th. 6th place, the first qualifier for Europe could, in the event of victory, become a goal for Carlos Martinez Novell's men. The Niçois who occupy it for the moment, only have 6 points more despite an additional match. Find our article here.
2:30 p.m. Not an ideal preparation for Lens
The Blood and Gold do not approach this meeting with unfailing serenity. Indeed, the opening of the winter transfer window caused some tensions within the club as goalkeeper and captain Brice Samba was due to sign for Rennes. A departure that management ultimately scuttled. Other players awaiting departure would have been, according to L’Équipe, annoyed by this refusal. The atmosphere is therefore not good within the Lens locker room. Our article on this funny preparation can be found here.
2:25 p.m. The referee is not unanimous.
It is Hakim Ben El Hadj who will officiate the whistle during this meeting. An appointment which was not well received by Lensois supporters who accused him of refereeing to the disadvantage of their club.
Also read:
Lens-TFC: “not Lens compatible”, “on the fence”… Why the referee of the match is severely criticized by the Lensois
2:10 p.m. We know the 11 of RC Lens!
The Sang et Or also revealed the team which will start for this 16th day of Ligue 1. In the cages, no Brice Samba, awaiting departure and no longer really in the odor of holiness, who is replaced by Koffi, who was illustrated during the French Cup match against PSG. For the rest, Will Still decided to rely on men he trusted. Nzola, the club's top scorer this season in the league, will occupy the front of the attack. He will be supported by Zaroury, Fulgini and captain Florian Sotoca. Frankowski, Sarr, Danso, Machado, Thomasson and Diouf complete the RC Lens lineup.
2:05 p.m. The composition of the TFC has fallen!
Guillaume Restes will keep the Toulouse cage as usual. Surprise, young Jaydee Canvot, 18, is lined up alongside Creswell. The usual starters Sidibé, McKenzie and Donnum will also start the match as will Casseres and captain Suazo. In attack, it is the trio Joshua King, Aboukhlal and Gboho who will try to destabilize the Lens defense. The usual captain Vincent Sierro is forfeited for this trip to Bollaert.
2 p.m. Hello everyone
Hello and welcome to this live! At the start of 2025, the resumption of Ligue 1. TFC travels to Lens at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis and hopes to start its year in the best possible way. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.
France
