Preview: Nice vs. Toulouse - prediction, team news, lineups

While hosts suffered a 2-0 defeat at Strasbourg last time out, the visitors recorded a second successive goalless draw as they were held by relegation strugglers Nantes.

Match preview

Following the sacking of Lucien Favre, caretaker manager Didier Digard oversaw a remarkable 14-match unbeaten streak between January and April, with the Eagles picking up eight wins and six draws across all competitions.

Since then, however, Nice have suffered four defeats in six Ligue 1 outings, with successive losses against Paris Saint-Germain, Brest and Clermont preceding last weekend's disappointing 2-0 defeat at Strasbourg.

Having ended their unbeaten run with a series of draws, Digard's men have managed to win just two of their previous 10 league encounters, meaning that Nice trail the European places by nine points with only three matches remaining.

Still, the Eagles can take confidence from their impressive record on home soil, having lost just two of their last 13 Ligue 1 games at the Allianz Riviera, although they have claimed a solitary victory in their previous six.

Across the past seven seasons, Nice have not finished lower than ninth, with three top-five finishes coming in that time, but the club from Alpes-Maritimes could end up in the bottom half this time around.

It is fair to say that Toulouse have enjoyed a successful comeback campaign in the top flight after winning the Ligue 2 title last year, as Philippe Montanier's men find themselves 10 points clear of the drop zone ahead of the final three games.

On top of that, Le Tefece clinched a memorable Coupe de France triumph three weeks ago, crushing Nantes 5-1 in the final thanks largely to first-half braces from Logan Costa and Thijs Dallinga.

Funnily enough, Toulouse came up against Nantes again last weekend, with the Canaries managing to hold Montanier's side to a goalless draw in Haute-Garonne, despite the hosts racking up 72% possession and 14 shots while limiting the visitors to a solitary attempt on target.

That result means that Toulouse head into Sunday's clash on the back of successive goalless draws, although Le Tefece have lost just two of their previous eight encounters across all competitions, picking up four wins along the way.

Having avoided defeat in each of their last three away league games - notching back-to-back victories over Montpellier and Lorient before drawing with Ajaccio - Toulouse will fancy their chances of enjoying more away-day success on Sunday.

Nice Ligue 1 form:

L

L

L

W

W

L

Nice form (all competitions):

L

L

L

W

W

L

Toulouse Ligue 1 form:

W

L

W

L

D

D

Toulouse form (all competitions):

L

W

W

L

D

D

Team News

Nice look set to be without Khephren Thuram on Sunday after the midfielder came off injured in last weekend's defeat at Strasbourg, with Reda Belahyane expected to replace Thuram in the starting XI.

Former Arsenal and Juventus star Aaron Ramsey is also likely to be absent after missing the previous game through injury, while Antoine Mendy, Youssouf Ndayishimiye and Nicolas Pepe remain on the treatment table.

Experienced stopper Kasper Schmeichel will continue between the sticks, with veteran defender Dante expected to partner Jean-Clair Todibo at centre-back.

Toulouse, on the other hand, are still without long-term absentee Rhys Healey as he continues to recover from an ACL tear, while backup goalkeeper Guillaume Restes is also out injured.

Having netted 18 goals in all competitions this term, Dutch forward Thijs Dallinga will continue to lead the line, while Fares Chaibi and Branco van den Boomen will likely return to the starting lineup.

Nice possible starting lineup:

Schmeichel; Lotomba, Todibo, Dante, Bard; Rosario, Boudaoui, Belahyane; Bouanani, Moffi, Laborde

Toulouse possible starting lineup:

Dupe; Desler, Rouault, Nicolaisen, Kamanzi; Spierings, Van den Boomen; Chaibi, Genreau, Ratao; Dallinga

We say: Nice 2-2 Toulouse

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