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

The hosts suffered a 3-0 defeat to Monaco last time out, while the visitors remain unbeaten this season after taking four points from a possible six in Ligue 1.

Match preview

Following the departure of Frederic Antonetti, Strasbourg kicked off the Patrick Vieira era with a 2-1 victory over Lyon on the opening weekend, courtesy of second-half goals from Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Lebo Mothiba.

Despite facing a barrage of 23 shots while seeing just 35% of the ball, Strasbourg managed to keep Lyon at bay until Nicolas Tagliafico scored a consolation goal in the 88th minute, with Le Racing converting their only two attempts on target.

However, the Alsace outfit were brought back down to earth last weekend as they managed a solitary shot on target in a 3-0 defeat against Monaco, with former Liverpool man Takumi Minamino bagging a brace at the Stade Louis-II.

After finishing 15th last season - five points clear of the expanded four-team relegation zone - Strasbourg parted company with Antonetti, who took over from interim manager Mathieu Le Scornet in February following the sacking of Julien Stephan.

A lot has changed at the Stade de la Meinau in recent months, but Vieira will be hoping to instil a sense of stability both on and off the pitch as he aims to rebuild his managerial career in France after struggling to improve Crystal Palace.

Toulouse head into Sunday's clash on the back of a hugely impressive 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain, who took the lead through Kylian Mbappe in the 62nd minute before conceding an 87th-minute equaliser as Zakaria Aboukhlal scored a late penalty.

Despite registering just 23% possession and two attempts on target throughout the contest, Toulouse frustrated the perennial champions on home soil, extending their unbeaten start to the season in the process.

Les Violets appeared to be heading for defeat on the opening weekend as they found themselves 1-0 down against Nantes with 30 minutes remaining, but they turned things around to claim all three points, with Rasmus Nicolaisen netting a 91st-minute winner.

Like Strasbourg, Toulouse have a new manager at the helm following the departure of Philippe Montanier, with 39-year-old Spaniard Carles Martinez Novell leading the club into the 2023-24 campaign.

Martinez Novell was appointed as Montanier's assistant back in December after a two-year stint as manager of Kuwait Under-20s, so time will tell whether the inexperienced coach has what it takes to manage at the top level.

Strasbourg Ligue 1 form:

Strasbourg form (all competitions):

Toulouse Ligue 1 form:

Toulouse form (all competitions):

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Team News

Strasbourg look set to be without the injured defensive trio of Eduard Sobol, Maxime Bastian and Steven Baseya for the foreseeable future, while Moise Sahi and Eiji Kawashima also remain sidelined.

Having bagged 10 league goals last term, former PSG and Atletico Madrid striker Kevin Gameiro will continue in attack for the hosts, with Lebo Mothiba expected to join Gameiro in the forward line.

Vieira will likely stick with a 3-5-2 formation, meaning that Ismael Doukoure, Gerzino Nyamsi and Abakar Sylla will occupy the backline, while Belgian stopper Matz Sels will continue in goal.

As for the visitors, Martinez Novell will be reluctant to change the starting XI that instigated the draw with PSG last weekend, with Frank Magri and Thijs Dallinga joining Aboukhlal in the forward line.

Mikkel Desler and Gabriel Suazo look set to occupy the wing-back roles in a 3-4-3 formation, while Cristian Casseres and Vincent Sierro are expected to anchor the midfield.

Strasbourg possible starting lineup:

Sels; Doukoure, Nyamsi, Sylla; Guilbert, Diarra, Deminguet, Bellegarde, Delaine; Mothiba, Gameiro

Toulouse possible starting lineup:

Restes; Costa, Nicolaisen, Diarra; Desler, Casseres, Sierro, Suazo; Aboukhlal, Dallinga, Magri

We say: Strasbourg 1-2 Toulouse

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