Out to avoid a fourth consecutive 0-0 draw in their final Ligue 1 home game of the season, Toulouse renew hostilities with Auxerre at the Stadium de Toulouse on Saturday evening.
Philippe Montanier's men were thwarted in a goalless stalemate with Nice last weekend, while their visitors - despite their best efforts - were put to the sword 2-1 by Paris Saint-Germain.
Match preview
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How the net did not ripple once during Nice's showdown with Toulouse last Sunday is anybody's guess, as both sides came within inches of nicking a win - albeit an inconsequential win - during a tense battle at the Allianz Riviera.
Prior to the half-time whistle, Dante and his 39-year-old legs prevented Rafael Ratao's strike from crossing the line, before Aiglons striker Terem Moffi inexplicably struck the post from a couple of yards out, although the intervention of Maxime Dupe may have put his Nigerian counterpart off.
Seemingly depleting their goalscoring reserves during their 5-1 thrashing of Nantes in the Coupe de France final, Toulouse have now gone 360 minutes of top-flight football without finding the back of the net, losing 1-0 to Lens before being denied and denying Ajaccio, Nantes and Nice.
However, with Les Violets already guaranteed to be playing top-flight football next season as they sit pretty in 13th place in the table, a lack of attacking proficiency should not overly concern Montanier, although repeated failings in front of their own fans might.
Indeed, the hosts have only managed to glean one point from their last six home matches in Ligue 1 - losing five on the bounce before holding Nantes on May 14 - and Auxerre would do well to capitalise on Toulouse's recent frailties in their bid to stave off relegation.
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When Kylian Mbappe scored two peaches within the first eight minutes of PSG's meeting with Auxerre, the home faithful at the Stade de l'Abbe-Deschamps may have been bracing themselves for a Parisiens drubbing, but their side proceeded to give the champions-elect a very good run for their money indeed.
Just six minutes into the second half, Gianluigi Donnarumma allowed a drilled Lassine Sinayoko effort to squirm underneath him and into the back of the net, but AJA could not complete a stunning fightback and remain in danger of demotion with two games left to play.
Angers, Ajaccio and Troyes have already been condemned to the drop, and one of Auxerre or Nantes will most likely join them, but Christophe Pelissier's men are the ones with their survival in their own hands in 16th place - one point better off than Nantes, who face a daunting trip to Lille in gameweek 37.
With second-placed Lens still to visit the Stade de l'Abbe-Deschamps, victory on Saturday is imperative for Auxerre, but Pelissier's formerly resilient crop have only taken two points from the last 15 on offer in Ligue 1 and have a meagre three wins to boast on their travels all season long.
Toulouse may have lost their golden touch in recent weeks, but Les Violets have won their last three meetings with Auxerre by an aggregate score of 13-1 - running out 5-0 victors on AJA's turf earlier this season and putting six past the visitors without reply at home in the 2021-22 Ligue 2 campaign.
Team News
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Toulouse's efforts to end their sticky patch in front of goal last weekend were not helped by an ankle injury to midfield maestro Branco van den Boomen, but there is optimism that the 27-year-old will be fit to take part in what will be his final home game for Les Violets.
As well as Van den Boomen, English striker Rhys Healey - who is on the long road to recovery from an ACL injury - is the only other injury concern for Montanier at present, but 12-goal Dutchman Thijs Dallinga has cemented his spot in the number nine position.
The expected return of Van den Boomen, who is only behind Joshua Kimmich in progressive passes in Europe's top five leagues this term, should force Denis Genreau out of the team, while Zakaria Aboukhlal is an option for change in the final third also.
Meanwhile, Auxerre welcomed striker M'Baye Niang back from illness during the loss to PSG, leaving Pelissier with just one fitness-related question mark in the shape of Elisha Owusu, whose Achilles is giving him grief.
Seemingly satisfied with what he saw for long periods against PSG, Pelissier did not make any changes until the 86th minute last weekend and may see no reason to disrupt the harmony here, but Niang's return to fitness could have Nuno Da Costa worrying for his spot up top.
Toulouse possible starting lineup:
Dupe; Desler, Costa, Nicolaisen, Suazo; Spierings, Sierro; Aboukhlal, Van den Boomen, Chaibi; Dallinga
Auxerre possible starting lineup:
Radu; Zedadka, Jubal, Toure, Raveloson, Mensah; Hein, Toure, Massengo, Sinayoko; Niang
We say: Toulouse 2-0 Auxerre
In spite of their recent attacking failures, Toulouse's build-up play will be boosted greatly by the expected return of Van den Boomen, and Auxerre are not exactly the masters of keeping things tight at the back against the Coupe de France holders.
Pelissier's side have rarely been blown away in 2023, though, and victory could secure survival for the visitors if results elsewhere go in their favour, but we cannot see any surprises being sprung against a sturdy Toulouse backline as the fight for survival goes right down to the wire.
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Top tip
Ben Knapton
