Verdict: Toulouse win
Best Odds: 3/5
Bookmaker: Dachbet
Looking to make an immediate return to winning ways on Friday night, Toulouse will host a struggling St. Etienne.
Toulouse
Starting with the hosts, eventually falling to a 2-0 loss away at Monaco last weekend, Toulouse will be seeking an immediate response here. Nevertheless, still opening Friday’s showdown battling it out in the top-half of the Ligue 1 table, Carles Novell’s men have continued to receive a string of plaudits from across France’s elite. Opening December with a 2-0 victory against Auxerre, Les Violets will certainly be excited to make a return to home soil. Heading into November’s international break with a stellar display as they clinched a 2-0 win against Rennes, the former Barcelona coach has seen his squad gain a reputation for their success at the Stadium de Toulouse. Including a 1-0 victory against Reims last month, Novell’s side have recorded consecutive Ligue 1 victories in front of their own supporters for the first time since the start of March.
Toulouse Team News
Still dealing with an ankle injury and not making a single appearance across any competition since the start of October, Toulouse will once again be without Rasmus Nicolaisen on Friday night. However, aside from the Denmark international, Les Violets have reported a clean bill of health.
Recording four Ligue 1 strikes in his previous seven appearances, former Bournemouth striker Joshua King will shoulder plenty of Toulouse’s goalscoring threat. Completing a permanent move from Championship outfit Leeds over the summer, Charlie Cresswell will start at the heart of Novell’s defence.
St. Etienne
As for the visitors, while St. Etienne might have secured a crucial Ligue 1 return for this season, the Greens have an almighty uphill battle on their hands. At the heart of a top-flight relegation scrap and opening Friday’s showdown with their goal difference keeping them in the drop zone, Olivier Dall’Oglio’s men have shown some glaring issues this year. Last seen putting in another downbeat display as they slumped to a 2-0 loss against Marseille, the former Montpellier boss is desperately seeking some kind of boost. Signing off November with an infamous 5-0 drumming against Rennes, St. Etienne have now lost three of their previous four Ligue 1 appearances. Marking their return from November’s fortnight interval with a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Lyon, Dall’Oglio’s downbeat squad should face another tricky test here.
St. Etienne Team News
Shown a straight red card against Rennes on November 30th, St. Etienne will once again be without former Reims midfielder Mathieu Cafaro this weekend. However, after serving a respective one-match suspension against Marseille last week, Ghana international Augustine Boakye on Friday night.
All still dealing with respective injury issues, St. Etienne will travel to Toulouse without the likes of Benjamin Old, Mickael Nade, Yann Macon and Anthony Briancon. Arriving from Sunderland on a season-long loan switch over the summer, ex-West Ham youngster Pierre Ekwah will start at the heart of Dall’Oglio’s defence.
Toulouse vs St. Etienne Key Factors to Consider
- Toulouse have collected back-to-back Ligue 1 victories on home soil for the first time since the start of March.
- St. Etienne have lost three of their previous four Ligue 1 appearances.
- Toulouse have lost just one of their last five top-flight appearances in front of their own supporters.
- Friday’s guests have collected just a single point from any of their first seven Ligue 1 showdowns on the road.
- St. Etienne have conceded 32 goals in their first 14 Ligue 1 matchups so far this season.
Conclusion
Continuing to shine on home soil and collecting back-to-back victories at the Stadium de Toulouse for the first time since the start of March, Les Violets should be smelling another golden opportunity here. With their sights set on making up some ground on the European chase, Friday’s hosts will be looking to cash in on a St. Etienne squad who find themselves at the heart of a real struggle. Collecting just a single point from any of their first seven Ligue 1 showdowns on the road, we are backing a home win here.
Verdict: Toulouse win
Best Odds: 3/5
Bookmaker: Dachbet
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