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

Le Tefece Les Violets have moved away from any relegation fears at the bottom of the league standings over the past month, whereas Troyes need to improve on their recent form to maintain their position outside the bottom four.

Match preview

Toulouse kept their unbeaten run in tact on Sunday afternoon as they showed their considerable powers of recovery to earn all three points at Stade de la Meinau against Strasbourg.

Veteran forward Kevin Gameiro put the hosts ahead after 20 minutes before a brace from 22-year-old Thijs Dallinga for Toulouse secured a third win in their last four Ligue 1 fixtures.

Philippe Montanier's men are unbeaten in 2023, a record which has seen to rise to 12th in the league standings and earn a place in the last-16 stage of Coupe de France.

Now 11 points ahead of Strasbourg who occupy the highest of the relegation places, Toulouse are having a stellar campaign back at this level after achieving promotion from Ligue 2 as champions last season, with the aim now to match the top-half finishes obtained by the club back in the early 2010's.

The reverse fixture in August was a success for Montanier's side who ran out comfortable 3-0 victors at Stade de L'Aube, and you get the feeling the Toulouse camp will be confident of matching such a scoreline on Wednesday evening considering their impressive form.

Unlike their hosts on Wednesday, Troyes have not enjoyed a productive start to the calendar year in Ligue 1 or Coupe de France, and need to find some form before they are hunted down by the relegation pack.

A 3-2 success at Strasbourg started 2023 off in a positive manner, however four games without a win since then - including an exit from the Coupe de France at the hands of Lille - has lowered the mood within the ESTAC fanbase.

Patrick Kisnorbo's side were close to a first win in over three weeks on Saturday when Yasser Larouci put Troyes ahead against high-flying Lens, but unfortunately for the hosts that day Adrien Thomasson netted an equaliser for Franck Haise's men in the 88th minute.

Troyes will take plenty of positives from being able to compete with a side challenging perennial-champions Paris Saint-Germain at the top of the Ligue 1 table, however there is an understanding amongst supporters that wins are more important than encouraging displays at this stage of the season.

In terms of matches on the road it has been all or nothing for Kisnorbo's men who have won three and lost seven of their 10 Ligue 1 outings to date, making Troyes the only side in the division without an away draw this season.

Toulouse Ligue 1 form:

L

L

W

W

D

W

Toulouse form (all competitions):

L

W

W

D

W

W

Troyes Ligue 1 form:

L

D

W

L

L

D

Team News

Toulouse are expected to name an unchanged XI after their win at Strasbourg, meaning Rafael Ratao and Zakaria Aboukhlal are set to partner Dutchman Dallinga in a menacing front three.

Montanier will still be without the services of Denis Genreau and Rhys Healey for Wednesday night, with both players long-term absentees as they recover from muscle and cruciate ligament injuries respectively.

Troyes employed a back five to relative success against an onslaught of Lens pressure last time out and could go with the same system against Toulouse, with Jackson Porozo, Yoann Salmier and Erik Palmer-Brown making up the central-defensive trio.

Kisnorbo's midfield options remain limited due to the absence of 30-year-old Florian Tardieu, with the former Zulte Waregem man expected to be out for the rest of the campaign after an Achilles tendon injury.

Toulouse possible starting lineup:

Dupe; Desler, Rouault, Nicolaisen, Diarra; Chaibi, Spierings, Van de Boomen; Aboukhlal, Ratao, Dallinga

Troyes possible starting lineup:

Gallon; Balde, Porozo, Salmier, Palmer-Brown, Larouci; Bruus, Chavalerin, Kouame, Lopes; Balde

We say: Toulouse 2-0 Troyes

Toulouse enjoyed an unbeaten January to start 2023 in style and now face a struggling Troyes side at home in their first fixture of an action-packed February.

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