Ligue 1 continues as Auxerre host Toulouse at Stade de L'Abbe Deschamps on Wednesday evening, with both sides having endured differing starts to 2023.
Auxerre fell to a disappointing defeat in their first league game of this calendar year, whereas Toulouse have recorded convincing wins in both Ligue 1 and Coupe de France so far this month.
Match preview
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Auxerre have not tasted victory within 90 minutes in any competitive form since October, quite the alarming statistic for supporters - albeit there was a month-long break for the World Cup in Qatar.
It took penalty kicks to advance past lower-league side Dunkerque in the Coupe de France on Sunday evening, with Auxerre's third-tier opponents twice breaching Donovan Leon in the visitors' goal.
Before that, a 1-0 defeat to Nantes on New Year's Day made any resolutions of an unbeaten January unreachable and left Christophe Pelissier's men 18th in the league standings, two points from safety.
Auxerre have been the worst travellers in the division so far this campaign so will take comfort from a home clash with Toulouse on Wednesday - however they have been far from efficient during their home fixtures, winning just two of eight in front of their own fans.
Toulouse have experienced a wildly-indifferent start to footballing matters after the World Cup break, with a 6-1 defeat to Marseille in their first game back being followed by successive wins against AC Ajaccio and then Lannion.
A 7-1 obliteration of their fifth-tier opponents in the Coupe de France on Sunday would have gone a long way in increasing the confidence among the group of Toulouse players who were comprehensively beaten by Marseille just days earlier, with five different members of the squad getting on the scoresheet at Stade du Roudourou.
Attention now turns back to Ligue 1 matters, where Toulouse face back-to-back matches against teams currently inside the relegation spots - the perfect opportunity to close the 14-point gap between themselves and fifth-placed Monaco.
Le Tefece Les Violets have not earned three points on their travels since a 3-0 success at Troyes back in August, although a trip to an Auxerre side who needed penalties to progress past third-tier Dunkerque on Sunday could be a good chance to record a maximum.
Team News
Auxerre will remain without right back Paul Joly on Wednesday due to a sprained ankle the 22-year-old suffered in the 5-0 defeat at PSG before the World Cup break, meaning Algerian Akim Zedadka is likely to start his seventh Ligue 1 match of the season.
Long-term absentee Theo Pellenard will be unavailable until April after a cruciate ligament injury sustained at the end of last season, with the defender still yet to play top-flight football for the club since joining in June 2021.
Toulouse will be unable to call on the services of Mikkel Desler and Welshman Rhys Healey on Wednesday, with the latter not expected back from a cruciate ligament injury until April.
Philippe Montanier made wholesale changes for their Coupe de France win over Lanion and is expected to revert to the XI that won 2-0 against AC Ajaccio in the league on New Year's Day, with Ado Onaiwu and Rafael Ratao set to regain their starting berths.
Auxerre possible starting lineup:
Costil; Zedadka, Jubal, Jeanvier, Mensah; Sinayoko, Sakhi, Toure, M'Changama; Autret, Niang
Toulouse possible starting lineup:
Dupe; Sylla, Rouault, Nicolaisen, Diarra; Dejaegere, Spierings, Van den Boomen; Ratao, Onaiwu, Chaibi
We say: Auxerre 1-1 Toulouse
Auxerre are on the hunt for their first league success since October but have a tough assignment against a Toulouse side who are fresh off a 7-1 victory in Coupe de France.
Montanier will have difficult decisions to make regarding team selection after some of his fringe players impressed on Sunday, but he should be able to manage his side to at least a point in this one.
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Top tip
Carter White
