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Attendance: 27,147
Toulouse
Ligue 1 | Gameweek 30
Mar 31, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
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0-1

FT(HT: 0-0)
Mbappe (74')

Preview: Toulouse vs. Paris Saint-Germain - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole provides the team news, predicted lineups and a full preview of Paris Saint-Germain's trip to Toulouse in Ligue 1.

Runaway leaders Paris Saint-Germain will look to continue their charge towards the Ligue 1 title when they travel to Toulouse on Sunday night.

PSG currently sit an incredible 20 points clear of second-placed Lille with a game in hand, while Toulouse are 14th in France's top flight, 10 points clear of the relegation zone.


Toulouse

Toulouse forward Yaya Sanogo in action against Monaco in February, 2018© Reuters

Toulouse are, of course, the huge underdogs entering this weekend's match, but Alain Casanova's side have only lost one of their last four Ligue 1 matches, with that defeat coming away to Lyon at the start of March.

Les Violets beat Guingamp on home soil earlier this month, while they entered the international break off the back of a 1-1 draw away to Nice. Last term, Toulouse ended the season in 18th position and therefore needed to win a relegation playoff to stay in the top flight of French football.

That indeed proved to be the case as they overcame AC Ajaccio 4-0 on aggregate to remain in Ligue 1; it does not appear that there will be any such problems this season, however, as they currently sit 14th in the table.

Casanova's team are actually 10 points clear of 18th-placed Guingamp, meaning that only a huge collapse at this stage of the campaign would see them drop into relegation trouble. They are only actually five points off 11th, meanwhile, and might be looking up rather than down entering the business end of the season.

Toulouse's home form has not been the best this term, but they have only lost four of their 14 Ligue 1 matches in front of their own supporters, which suggests that PSG could be in for a tough task this weekend.

PSG might have the best away record with 10 wins from their 13 fixtures, but Toulouse have beaten the Paris giants as recently as September 2016, while each of their last two league meetings have only brought narrow 1-0 victories for the French champions.

Toulouse's defensive record this season will be a concern, though, with only Guingamp, Dijon, Monaco and Caen conceding more times in Ligue 1. Indeed, Les Violets have shipped 43 goals in their 29 games and are preparing to welcome a team who have netted 86 times in the division this term.

Recent form: DLDLWD


Paris Saint-Germain

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Thomas Tuchel looks dejected during his side's Champions League defeat to Manchester United on March 6, 2019© Reuters

PSG's Ligue 1 record this season is absolutely stunning, boasting 25 wins, two draws and just the one defeat from their 28 matches. The capital giants won the 2017-18 title with a points total of 93, but are well on course to better that this term.

Domestically, it is shaping up to be another strong campaign as they prepare to face Nantes in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France next week, but there is no getting away from the fact that it has been another season of European disappointment for Thomas Tuchel's side.

Indeed, PSG were knocked out of the Champions League by Manchester United in the round of 16, with the English giants incredibly recording a 3-1 win in the away leg to advance. Their fans will feel that they should be looking forward to a quarter-final with Barcelona, but that is not the case.

PSG's response to the European loss has been pretty good, though, winning 4-0 at Dijon on March 12 before recording a 3-1 home victory over Marseille immediately before the international break.

Tuchel's side are currently 20 points clear of second-placed Lille with a game in hand. To be blunt, the capital outfit are just far too good for their league and it is difficult to see that changing anytime soon.

In terms of what is ahead - PSG, as mentioned, will take on Nantes in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France on Wednesday night, before facing Strasbourg in the league on April 7. Seven days later, Lille will host the league leaders and will be hoping to follow Lyon's example to triumph.

It is certainly shaping up to be another very interesting summer transfer window for the French giants. Kylian Mbappe continues to be linked with a move away from the club, but keeping the France international will be absolutely paramount if the club are to challenge for European silverware next term.

Recent form: WWWWWW
Recent form (all competitions): WWWLWW


Team News

Neymar in action for PSG on January 23, 2019© Reuters

Toulouse have no fresh injury concerns from their draw with Nice before the international break and their players should be well-rested in comparison to their opponents this weekend.

Former Arsenal forward Yaya Sanogo will lead the home side's line, while there should also be a spot for former Leeds United attacker Max Gradel.

Firmin Mubele will also be pushing for a position having scored Toulouse's equaliser off the bench against Nice.

As for PSG, Neymar and Edinson Cavani remain on the sidelines with foot and hip injuries respectively.

Julian Draxler is also still struggling with a muscular problem, while Angel di Maria is expected to miss out with the hamstring injury that he picked up on Argentina duty.

Dani Alves and Thomas Meunier are also doubts with knee injuries, meaning that Colin Dagba, Christopher Nkunku and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting could all feature.

Juan Bernat came off the bench against Marseille last time out and should start, while Marquinhos, Marco Verratti and Thiago Silva will all make the away side's XI on Sunday night.

Toulouse possible starting lineup:
Goicoechea; Sylla, Jullien, Shoji, Amian; Cahuzac, Sangare; Gradel, Garcia, Dossevi; Sanogo

Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Areola; Marquinhos, Silva, Kimpembe; Dagba, Nkunku, Paredes, Verratti, Bernat; Choupo-Moting, Mbappe


Head To Head

PSG recorded a 1-0 win in the reverse league game earlier this season, while that was also the score when the pair met at the home of Toulouse during the 2017-18 campaign.

Toulouse did beat PSG on home soil in September 2016, but that proved to be their first home league victory over the capital giants since October 2009.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Toulouse 0-2 Paris Saint-Germain

It is difficult to predict anything other than an away win this weekend. PSG are still well short of putting their best team on the field, but should have more than enough to secure yet another three points.



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Paris Saint-Germain forward Edinson Cavani goes down injury during a Ligue 1 clash with Bordeaux on February 9, 2019
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Paris Saint-GermainPSG12102036102632
2MonacoMonaco1282221101126
3Marseille1272327161123
4Lille115421811719
5Lyon125431916319
6Reims125342016418
7Nice1145221111017
8Lens124531312117
9Auxerre115152019116
10Toulouse124351314-115
11StrasbourgStrasbourg113442022-213
12Brest124171622-613
13Saint-EtienneSt Etienne124171125-1413
14Rennes113261318-511
15NantesNantes112451417-310
16Angers112451320-710
17Le HavreLe Havre11308823-159
18Montpellier HSCMontpellier122191132-217


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