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

At the halfway stage of the season, the hosts are only outside of the relegation zone on goal difference, while the visitors are faring slightly better, currently sitting in 12th place.

Match preview

Strasbourg have amassed just 15 points in the 19 games that they have played so far this season, only above 17th-placed Brest due to the fact that they have scored five more goals, netting on 24 occasions.

The main problem for the Blue and Whites is an abysmal home record, picking up just six points from their 10 games at the Stade de la Meinau, the second-worst record of any side in the division.

Incredibly, the side now managed by Mathieu Le Scornet are still searching for their first win on home soil this season, drawing on six occasions and losing four, most recently playing out a 2-2 draw with Lens.

Le Scornet only took over as manager earlier this month, with the assistant manager replacing Julien Stephan after his dismissal, and doing enough to secure his place in the dugout for the foreseeable future.

The decisive factor was likely the Blue and Whites' triumph in their last match, defeating a strong Lyon side 2-1 away from home courtesy of first-half goals from Jean-Eudes Aholou and Habib Diallo.

Strasbourg are showing signs of improvement, but so are their opponents, with Toulouse now undefeated in their last five competitive matches, winning on four occasions and scoring 17 goals in the process.

Admittedly, a large amount of these came in a Coupe de France tie against Lannion, a fifth-tier side, as Les Pitchouns ran out resounding 7-1 winners, but there have also been signs that they are capable of similar performances against better teams.

In the following away trip, Philippe Montanier's side breezed past Auxerre in Ligue 1 action, defeating them 5-0, with five different goalscorers getting on the scoresheet.

Montanier will be hoping that those recent results have put to bed their poor record away from home, as Toulouse have acquired the joint-second fewest amount of points of any side in the division on their travels, picking up just seven.

Last time out, Les Pitchouns booked their place in the last 16 of the Coupe de France with a comfortable 2-0 victory against AC Ajaccio, however they are likely to have a tougher test on Saturday, given that they have not beaten Strasbourg in their last 11 attempts.

Strasbourg Ligue 1 form:

L

D

L

L

D

W

Toulouse Ligue 1 form:

L

L

L

W

W

D

Toulouse form (all competitions):

L

L

W

W

D

W

Team News

Both managers have had a number of injuries to deal with in recent weeks, and the outlook is not getting any better for Toulouse, as Jean-Ricner Bellegarde picked up an ankle issue in the last match, so Ibrahima Sissoko could come into the team.

Dimitri Lienard also sustained an injury against Lyon, so Franci Bouebari could come in at left-back, with Ismael Doukoure on the opposite side, while Alexander Djiku, Gerzino Nyamsi and Lucas Perrin should keep their places in the middle.

As for Toulouse, Rhys Healey is unavailable due to a long-term knee injury, with the Englishman set to be out for a few more months, so Ado Onaiwu is the natural choice to lead the line.

Denis Genreau is another notable absentee, as the midfielder is still suffering with a muscle issue, and so Veljko Birmancevic is poised to start in the engine room, playing next to Branco van den Boomen and Stijn Spierings in a 4-3-3 system.

Strasbourg possible starting lineup:

Sels; Djiku, Nyamsi, Perrin; Doukoure, Sissoko, Prcic, Aholou, Lienard; Gameiro, Diallo

Toulouse possible starting lineup:

Dupe; Sylla, Rouault, Nicolaisen, Diarra; Spierings, Van Den, Birmancevic; Ratao, Aboukhlal, Onaiwu

We say: Strasbourg 0-2 Toulouse

Toulouse have been in sensational form since the turn of the year in both a defensive and attacking sense, so we expect them to wrap up a comfortable victory against Strasbourg on Sunday.

The hosts have been much more promising under the helm of Le Scornet, but they are still in a very poor league position, so there is no better chance for Toulouse to end their long winless run against their opponents.

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