Preview: Toulouse vs. Montpellier HSC - prediction, team news, lineups

Les Pitchouns suffered a 2-1 loss away at Lille last time out, while Montpellier come into the fixture following a 2-1 win against Strasbourg.

Match preview

It has been a steady start to life in Ligue 1 for newly-promoted Toulouse, with Philippe Montanier's men currently 12th in the table, having acquired eight points from their first eight games.

The most encouraging performance for Les Pitchouns so far is no doubt their comfortable 3-0 win against Troyes in their second match, in which left-back Issiaga Sylla was particularly impressive.

However, after picking up five points from their opening three games, Sunday's hosts started to unravel and have lost four of their last five matches, including a particularly disappointing 2-0 defeat against Clermont.

The most recent of those was a narrow 2-1 loss against 2020-21 Ligue 1 champions Lille, with Toulouse showing some promising signs, particularly when Thijs Dallinga and Fares Chaibi combined well to equalise, but they ultimately came unstuck due to a fantastic volley from Adam Ounas.

Montpellier have had an inconsistent start to the season, with an even record having won four and lost four of their opening eight games.

One thing you would have to say though, is that their games have been exciting to watch, with a 2-1 victory against Strasbourg before the international break coming courtesy of a 94th-minute Teji Savanier penalty, while a home defeat to Auxerre saw both teams finish the game with nine men.

La Paillade have the second-best attacking record in the league, largely due to a sensational 7-0 victory against Brest, in which young forward Elye Wahi bagged a brace, and the Frenchman will likely be the focal point in attack for Montpellier on Sunday, remaining in good form having scored for France Under-21s in the international break.

Savanier will also be hoping to continue his impressive displays in recent matches, with three goals and an assist to his name in five appearances this season, while winger Arnaud Nordin boasts the same record and scored the opener with a good header from a corner last time out.

The recent history between the two sides does not make good reading for Toulouse fans, with Montpellier heading into Sunday's clash having won the last four Ligue 1 matches between the two teams.

Toulouse Ligue 1 form:

D

L

L

L

W

L

Montpellier HSC Ligue 1 form:

L

W

W

L

L

W

Team News

One man Toulouse would have wanted to have available recently is striker Rhys Healey, who netted 20 league goals in his team's title-winning 2021-22 Ligue 2 season, and is out with a cruciate ligament rupture.

In his absence, Philippe Montanier will be hoping summer signing Thijs Dallinga can step up the plate, with the young Dutchman boasting an incredible scoring record with his former club Excelsior, notching 32 league goals last season.

Also missing for the home side is Rafael Ratao who is out with a thigh injury, while summer signing Theocharis Tsingaras is a doubt after getting a knock in a friendly against Nimes during the international break.

For the visitors, Pedro Mendes and Stephy Mavididi may get some minutes, with the pair not far from returning to the team after nursing muscle and thigh injuries.

Mamadou Sakho has been struggling with a calf injury that caused him to miss the last match, so Christopher Jullien is expected to get the nod in defence, while Faitout Maouassa is a doubt with a hamstring injury.

Toulouse possible starting lineup:

Dupe; Diarra, Rouault, Nicolaisen; Sylla, Spierings, Desler, Van den Boomen; Aboukhlal, Chaibi, Dallinga

Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:

Omlin; Tchato, Jullien, Esteve, Cozza; Ferri, Chotard, Nordin, Savanier, Khazri; Wahi

We say: Toulouse 2-2 Montpellier HSC

Montpellier games have tended to be high-scoring affairs this season, so we expect them to carry on in this vein, but Toulouse should have enough about them to get a point at home.

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