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

The visitors, meanwhile, are winless in their last six league outings, and will attempt to record their first league victory since January.

Match preview

A run of three defeats across Toulouse's last four league games has left them in 11th, five points adrift of the top half of the table.

Toulouse's leaky defence will be a concern for Philippe Montanier, with the Violets having conceded at least once in each of their last seven games including six goals in their last two league matches.

Even so, progressing to their first Coupe de France semi-final since 2009 with a rampant 6-1 win over Rodez AF in midweek will have provided a boost to Montanier and his squad.

Goals from Zakaria Aboukhal, Branco van den Boomen, Thijs Dallinga (2), Fares Chaibi and Gabriel Suazo capped off a dominant first-half display from Montanier's side, as Toulouse went into the interval 6-0 up.

Despite their recent wobbles in Ligue 1 against Marseilles and Reims, the Violets have been in terrific form in 2023, winning nine of their 12 games in all competitions since the turn of the year.

Montanier has lost just three times in his 13 career meetings with Clermont, so he will be quietly confident that his side can record a victory on Sunday.

Currently on a six-game winless run of league games, Clermont can leapfrog Toulouse into 11th place if they manage to secure a victory this weekend.

The Lancers shared the spoils with Strasbourg last time out, after Elbasan Rashani cancelled out Habib Diallo's first-half strike.

However, Clermont could set a new club record for top-flight away games without a goal should they fail to score for a third straight away trip this weekend.

The visitors, who are negotiating just their second full Ligue 1 season, have no reason to panic yet, boasting four more points than they did after 25 matches last season and - perhaps more importantly - sitting 10 points above the relegation zone ahead of this meeting with Toulouse.

Toulouse Ligue 1 form:

W

W

L

W

L

L

Toulouse form (all competitions):

L

W

W

L

L

W

Clermont Ligue 1 form:

D

D

L

L

L

D

Team News

Toulouse striker Rhys Healey will again be sidelined on Wednesday night as he is recovering from a cruciate ligament injury.

Thijs Dallinga could reach double figures in goals for the first time in a top-flight league season if he can build on netting five goals across his last six appearances, so he is expected to lead the line here.

Clermont will be without centre-back Alidu Seidu this weekend after the 22-year-old suffered a meniscus injury during the goalless draw at Lille - the player is expected to be back next month.

Johan Gastien remains on the treatment table for Pascal Gastien's side, with the midfielder yet to return from a calf injury sustained in the win at Angers last month.

Toulouse possible starting lineup:

Dupe; Desler, Rouault, Nicolaisen, Suazo; Spierings, Dejaegere, Van den Boomen; Aboukhlal, Dallinga, Ratao

Clermont possible starting lineup:

Diaw; Konate, Ogier, Wieteska; Allevinah, Magnin, Gonalons, Borges; Rashani, Khaoui; Kyei

We say: Toulouse 2-0 Clermont

After an emphatic victory in midweek, confidence will be high in the Toulouse camp, so we expect them to have the firepower to secure the victory.

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