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This could be the craziest game of the round – best new free tip!
We have picked an unexpected meeting, but the protagonists and the referee guarantee a colourful encounter.
After last weekend’s cup round, the French top flight returns for the second round of this year’s Ligue 1. This time we’ve picked out a card tip for the matchday, with the Toulouse-Lens game on Sunday afternoon expected to be a bloodbath, and perhaps not without reason.
Why will the match be important for the teams?
Halfway through the league, Lens will be in contention for the European Cup and Toulouse will be fighting for the title this season. Although only six places separate them in the table. The visitors are coming off a two-match losing streak and, like their rivals, have also been knocked out of the French Cup. This means that Lens have lost three games in a row (even if they only lost to Monaco in extra time). But let’s not forget that Franck Haise’s side can still improve in the Europa League this spring.
It could be a difficult year for the home side, who, despite a six-point win over Metz, start the round just above the line. Understandably not favourites against Lens, and cannot expect Lyon to finish the year in the relegation zone.
So there is a reason for a tough match. Both sides need the points. But we wouldn’t dare to give Lens the away win here in their current form. What we do dare to do, however, are card bets.
The stats are very much in our favour, with Toulouse 2nd and Lens 4th most yellow cards this season. And the visitors also bagging nearly 3.5 cards in away games. Of particular interest is that Toulouse are one of only three teams yet to have a red card. While Lens have already seen 4.
The best free pick for Toulouse-Lens
Tough matches need tough referee. And 30-year-old Mathieu Vernice has been collecting cards very well this year. He has dealt 31 cards in 6 games so far. The toughest being a late November clash between Montpellier and Clermont, where he dealt 19 cards in total, albeit most of them off the field. But apart from that, there is no need to fear. As he has handed out 7, 4, 5, 7, 7 and 3 cards to the players in the French top flight so far this year.
The teams have not played really tough encounters in recent years. But it is also true that a ref of Vernice’s calibre has not led these games either. In the match between Toulouse, who are fighting for survival, and Lens, who are looking to regain their form, we think there could easily be 5 cards, with 1 of the more colourful ones going to one of the two sides. The tips are recommended to be played at 22bet!
