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

Philippe Montanier's men suffered a 2-0 loss at the hands of Clermont last weekend, while the visitors managed to hold Lens to a 1-1 draw.

Match preview

For all of their dominance on the Ligue 2 landscape, Toulouse have not been cutting the mustard in Ligue 1 so far, with playoff winners Auxerre enjoying the best fortunes of the newly-promoted sides so far.

Not many will knock Montanier's side for losing to Coupe de France holders Nantes and reigning Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, but going down 2-0 to Clermont - who were only promoted in 2021 themselves - was a particularly low ebb.

Fans were still taking their seats after the half-time interval when Maxime Gonalons put Les Lanciers ahead, and substitute Muhammed Cham put the result beyond any reasonable doubt in the sixth minute of second-half injury time last Sunday.

From going unbeaten in their first three fixtures to suffering three consecutive defeats, Toulouse have now dropped to 15th in the embryonic rankings and could very well end the weekend below the dotted line if results do not go their way.

Scoring one goal and conceding eight in their last three games, Toulouse have not been the same on the attacking front since losing Rhys Healey to a cruciate ligament rupture, and they are yet to pick up three points on home turf this season.

Another Ligue 1 game, another goal for Folarin Balogun, as the Arsenal loanee becomes the latest Gunners player to shine in the French game following his fifth goal of the season in last weekend's 1-1 draw with Lens.

Sang et Or left-back Deiver Machado had only been on the pitch for four minutes before receiving a straight red card, after which Balogun opened the scoring for Reims, but Lens battled hard to equalise through Lois Openda eight minutes from the end.

With Lens consistently challenging in and around the European spots, taking a point away from that fixture is undoubtedly something for Reims to celebrate, even if Oscar Garcia's side felt an opportunity was missed with an extra man.

Following a third 1-1 draw in four matches - with the other ending in a 4-2 success at Angers - Les Rouges et Blancs sit one point and one place above Toulouse in the table in 14th spot, and Garcia's side have both scored and conceded in each of their domestic fixtures so far this season.

Reims managed to pull off a 1-0 victory over Toulouse the last time the two sides met, which came in the curtailed 2019-20 season as Les Violets were ultimately demoted, but that represents just a second win from 11 Ligue 1 meetings between the clubs for the visitors.

Toulouse Ligue 1 form:

Reims Ligue 1 form:

Team News

As mentioned, English striker Healey is on the long road back from an ACL rupture, and Toulouse boss Montanier also lost fellow attacker Rafael Ratao to a thigh injury at the end of the first half against Clermont.

Initial assessments suggest that the Brazilian will be absent for four weeks, meaning that Veljko Birmancevic can likely look forward to a few starts on the left-hand side, but Montanier has no injury concerns otherwise.

Despite lasting less than an hour last weekend, Dutch youth international Thijs Dallinga should hold off competition from Japan's Ado Onaiwu to start up front for the seventh Ligue 1 game running.

Meanwhile, Reims coach Garcia is serving the second of a two-game ban and will therefore not be barking orders from the touchline, while Jens Cajuste is back in the fold following his red card against Angers at the end of August.

The visitors should see little reason to break up the double pivot of Marshall Munetsi and Dion Lopy, though, and Balogun managed to play through the pain of back and knee issues for the full 90 against Lens.

Thomas Foket and Azor Matusiwa are not expected to return before the international break, and Kaj Sierhuis is another injury concern for Reims, who are extremely well-stocked in the final third nonetheless.

Toulouse possible starting lineup:

Dupe; Desler, Rouault, Nicolaisen, Sylla; Spierings, Van den Boomen; Aboukhlal, Dejaegere, Birmancevic; Dallinga

Reims possible starting lineup:

Pentz; Agbadou, Gravillon, Abdelhamid; Busi, Lopy, Munetsi, Locko; Doumbia; Balogun, Ito

We say: Toulouse 1-2 Reims

Toulouse have not been able to rediscover their formula for attacking success in recent weeks, and facing a leaky Reims outfit may not be the perfect tonic for Montanier's under-performing crop given their own frailties at the back.

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