Hoping to continue their push for European football next season, Toulouse host bottom-placed Montpellier HSC in Ligue 1 this weekend.
The home side are eighth in the standings after 18 matches, and they come into this fixture off the back of a well-earned point away to Lyon last time out.
Match preview
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That draw against Les Gones was another positive result for Les Violets, who are currently exceeding expectations this season, having finished 11th last season.
Toulouse have lost just once in their past six games in all competitions, maintaining their challenge for European qualification, as well as the Coupe de France.
A major reason behind the club's good form this year has been their strong defensive displays, with Toulouse conceding only 19 times in 18 matches so far in Ligue 1.
Goalkeeper Guillaume Restes currently leads the division for clean sheets, having kept eight so far this season, as Toulouse have consistently defended well throughout the campaign.
Unfortunately for the hosts, they have struggled at the other end of the pitch, and for all their success in defence, they have only scored 19 times this season, which is the fourth-worst attacking record in the league.
This weekend's clash represents the perfect opportunity to boost their goal tally this season, as they come up against a Montpellier side that have conceded 43 goals so far this campaign – the most in the league this season.
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Montpellier's 16-year stay in the top flight is in danger of coming to end this season, with the club enduring a torrid campaign so far, that has seen them win just three times in the league, and a change of management, with Michel Der Zakarian replaced by Jean-Louis Gasset back in October.
However, the visitors come into this match off the back of their first win in over two months, as they pulled off a shock victory against Monaco last Friday.
Two goals from Mousa Al-Taamari turned the game in Montpellier's favour, having fallen behind to Thilo Kehrer's opener earlier in the game.
Despite gaining three points last time out, the visitors are still five points away from safety at the bottom of the Ligue 1 table.
Like their opponents this weekend, goals have been hard to come by for the visitors, as they have scored one less goal than Toulouse in the league, with 18 goals in 18 matches.
Montpellier will be hoping that their win against Monaco can provide a springboard for their season, as they look to pull off an unlikely escape against the drop.
This weekend, they have a difficult task ahead of them, as they have yet to secure even a point on the road this season, with the club being outscored by 20 goals to three in their eight away matches so far this campaign.
Team News
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Toulouse have several injury concerns ahead of this clash, with Djibril Sidibe (Achilles), Rasmus Nicolaisen (ankle), Vincent Sierro (leg) all out for the foreseeable future.
Elsewhere, Niklas Schmidt will be out for the rest of the season, as he continues his recovery from an ACL injury.
Meanwhile, the visitors come into this match without captain Jordan Ferri, who was sent off in a defeat to Angers earlier this month.
Elsewhere, Nikola Maksimovic is out for the season due to a hamstring injury, while Birama Toure and Lucas Mincarelli are also ruled out due to injury.
Toulouse possible starting lineup:
Restes; Suazo, McKenzie, Cresswell, Canvot; Casseres Jr., Genreau, Donnum, Aboukhlal, Gboho; King
Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:
Lecomte; Sylla, Mouanga, Sagnan, Omeragic, Tchato; Chotard, Nzingoula, Savanier; Al-Taamari, Khazri
We say: Toulouse 3-0 Montpellier HSC
Despite having a good season, scoring goals has been an issue for the hosts so far this campaign.
However, they are coming up against the worst defence in Ligue 1, so they should be able to score a few here in a comfortable home win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Tom Humphrey
