Riding the longest current winless run in Ligue 1, Toulouse host Monaco at Stadium de Toulouse on Wednesday in the final domestic encounter for each this year.
Over the weekend, Les Pitchouns failed to win domestically for a ninth successive time, playing to a 0-0 draw with Rennes, while Les Monegasques suffered just a second defeat at home this season, losing 1-0 versus Lyon.
Match preview
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Toulouse are barely getting by domestically right now, sitting just a single point above Lyon in the relegation playoff battle, while a mere three points separate them from Clermont at the bottom of the table.
Historically, 14 points after 16 matchdays like they currently possess does not bode well for the future, with Le Tefece being relegated from the top flight four of the previous five times they had that total at this point of the campaign.
Les Violets will head into this encounter unbeaten in four successive home fixtures in all competitions, a run which began with a 3-2 triumph over Liverpool in the Europa League, while they have posted two clean sheets in their last three games played at Stadium de Toulouse.
The first stint as a senior manager for Carles Martinez Novell has been challenging, with his team winning just two domestic matches all season, two fewer than they had at this same stage in 2022-23 when he was second in command behind Philippe Montanier.
For some reason, Toulouse have been more potent in the Europa League than in this competition, finding the back of the net in five of six European group fixtures while failing to score in six of their 16 domestic encounters.
Le Tef have scored just once in their previous four domestic fixtures, dropping 10 points in Ligue 1 this season when netting the opening goal.
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They had their chances but could not finish, and that frustration seemed to get the better of the Principality side, who failed to gain any ground on Nice or Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the title race.
Les Monegasques remain two points behind Les Aiglons for second and seven behind PSG, winning just one of their last four away games in this competition (2-1 at Rennes).
It is rare to see Monaco fail to find the scoresheet domestically, with their defeat last Friday being just the fourth time that Adi Hutter had seen his side without a goal after 90 minutes this season.
Defensively, they tend to lose their composure at the most inopportune moment, conceding three goals in stoppage time to this point of the campaign, allowing five of their last seven Ligue 1 goals in the 70th minute or beyond.
Six of their nine triumphs domestically in 2023-24 have come when Les Rouge et Blanc were in front at the interval while losing their only two away matches this season when they were behind after 45 minutes.
While they have struggled away from home lately, Monaco are in great form when visiting Stadium de Toulouse, unbeaten there since 2016-17 (3-1) when it was known as Municipal Stadium.
Team News
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It is unlikely Toulouse will have Oliver Zanden or Zakaria Aboukhlal available in midweek as they are suffering from hip and knee injuries respectively, though Niklas Schmidt could be ready to return from his physical discomfort.
Guillaume Restes stopped the four Rennes efforts that he faced over the weekend, collecting his second clean sheet in his last three home matches in all competitions.
Thijs Dallinga leads them with five domestic goals this season, and he was the last player to score for them in Ligue 1 when they played Lorient to a 1-1 draw at home in early December.
Les Monegasques will be without Wilfried Singo and Denis Zakaria on Wednesday because of suspensions, while Aleksandr Golovin and Vanderson are eligible to return after each missing the match versus Lyon through suspension.
Eliesse Ben Seghir continues to recover from a sore shoulder, Myron Boadu and Eliot Matazo are dealing with muscle issues, while Breel Embolo and Caio Henrique are out with cruciate ligament ruptures.
Their big summer signing Folarin Balogun is without a goal in his last three games, while Wissam Ben Yedder has not found the back of the net in consecutive matches, currently leading them with six on the season.
Toulouse possible starting lineup:
Restes; Mawissa, Costa, Nicolaisen, Diarra; Spierings, Sierro, Casseres, Suazo; Magri, Dallinga
Monaco possible starting lineup:
Kohn; Matsima, Maripan, Salisu; Vanderson, Fofana, Camara, Jakobs; Golovin, Minamino; Ben Yedder
We say: Toulouse 1-2 Monaco
Monaco are much more dynamic with Golovin in the fold, and his presence should reinvigorate them in midweek, while Les Monegasques have followed up every defeat this season with a victory.
Playing in Europe seems to impact Toulouse domestically, with Le Tefece lacking imagination during their Ligue 1 affairs, perhaps due to fatigue with a much more demanding schedule than they are used to.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joel Lefevre
