Toulouse FC host Le Havre at the Stadium Municipal on Saturday evening in a direct clash at the bottom of the Ligue 1 table. The Violets, sitting 17th with just 2 points, are targeting their first win of the season against a Norman side one place above them.
The club approaches this fifth matchday following a 2-2 draw away to Lorient last weekend. Casper Tengstedt and Thomas Jørgensen scored the goals, both assisted by Cristian Cásseres. That performance was not enough to halt a negative run of five games without a win, comprising two draws and three defeats. This worrying recent form places them among the lowest-scoring teams, with only 3 goals scored in 4 matches. Their last victory dates back to a pre-season friendly against Real Sociedad in late July.
The encounter with Le Havre carries extra weight. In their last league meeting on 15 February, the Norman side won 2-1. Revenge is therefore on the cards in a stadium hoping to see its team gain the upper hand in the battle against relegation. To achieve this, Toulouse will need to be more clinical in front of goal, as the team needs to reach its target of 180 minutes of high-level play to hope for a turnaround. The starting lineup could be similar to the one fielded in Lorient, with M. Niflore in goal and a central defensive pairing of S. Koumbassa and M. McKenzie.
The upcoming fixtures are demanding and a win this weekend would provide immense relief. The coaching staff must also manage without A. Francis, R. Nicolaisen and G. Restes, all currently sidelined. The exact team sheet will be confirmed one hour before kick-off, which you can follow live on our site. The squad list is detailed on our squad page.
A victory would allow Toulouse to leapfrog their opponents and create some breathing room before the international break. The final whistle on Saturday night will set the tone for the campaign ahead.
