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Toulouse
Ligue 1
Aug 22, 2015 at 7pm UK
 
Monaco

1-1

Doumbia (22')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Lemar (65')

Preview: Toulouse vs. Monaco

Sports Mole previews the Ligue 1 clash between Toulouse and AS Monaco.

AS Monaco could move into a Champions League position with a victory away to Toulouse in Ligue 1.

However, Le Tefece will be looking to make it two wins from two at home in the league, and will also be keen to bounce back from their defeat at Caen.


Toulouse

Toulouse's French Tunisian forward Wissam Ben Yedder jubilates after scoring during the French L1 football match Guingamp versus Toulouse on May 16, 2015© Getty Images

Toulouse will no doubt be looking to avoid another fight for survival in Ligue 1 this term after narrowly avoiding the drop last season.

Les Pitchouns ended the 2014-15 campaign one place above the relegation zone, albeit five points clear of Evian TG.

However, that had followed three seasons of top-half finishes and Toulouse will hope to rediscover that form again.

Le Tef did open their current campaign with a slender 2-1 victory over Saint-Etienne, thanks to goals from Martin Braithwaite and Wissam Ben Yedder.

However, Dominique Arribage's team then slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Caen after Damien Da Silva scored the only goal for Stade.

If Toulouse are to finish higher in the league, they will need to snap out of their indifferent form, which was seen them win three and lose three of their last eight fixtures, stretching into the end of last season.

They will also hope to improve their recent indiscipline, after having players red-carded in both of their league games so far.

Recent form: LWLLWL


Monaco

Monaco's Italian forward Stephan El Shaarawy celebrates after scoring the 4-0 during the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round second leg football match between AS Monaco vs BSC Young Boys on August 4, 2015© Getty Images

Monaco have made an indifferent start to their season, as they lie just outside the top three in the French top flight, but are facing a possible early exit from the Champions League.

Les Rouges et Blanc snuck into final qualification round for Europe's premier club competition after Marseille's slump in form saw Leonardo Jardim's men beat OM to third spot.

However, Monaco, who reached the quarter final of last year's Champions League, are in danger of elimination before the group stages after they were beaten 3-1 by Valencia on Wednesday.

AS have, at least, started their domestic campaign on the front foot after they came back to beat OCG Nice at the Allianz Riviera.

Monaco were then held at home by Herve Renard's Lille, but followed that up with their loss at the Mestalla on Wednesday.

Injury to playmaker Joao Moutinho will have done little to help the Monagasque's cause, but Jardim's anger at the "unfair" nature of their defeat against Los Che could spur on the seven-time champions.

The South Coast club did manage to add the firepower of Stephan El Shaarawy over the summer, while keeping hold of Anthony Martial and Bernardo Silva.

Recent form: WLWWWD
Recent form (all competitions): LWWWDL


Team News

Monaco's French forward Anthony Martial celebrates after scoring a penalty during the French L1 football match between Monaco and Toulouse on May 3, 2015 © Getty Images

Monaco could look to recall El Shaarawy after the ex-AC Milan forward was benched for the loss against Los Che.

However, Jardim could opt for the same frontline of Martial, Silva and Ivan Cavaleiro for the return to domestic action.

Toulouse will be without the suspended Uros Spajic for the visit of AS after his late red card in the defeat to Caen.

His place could go to central defender Maxime Spano, who was on the bench for Le Tefece last weekend.

Aleksandar Pesic is also banned following his sending-off in the victory over Saint-Etienne in the opening game.

Toulouse possible starting lineup:
Goicoechea, Biyik, Spano, Ninkov, Moubandje, Doumbia, Akpa-Akpro, Didot, Braithwaite, Ben Yedder, Trejo

Monaco possible starting lineup:
Subasic; Ragic, Carvalho, Wallace, Elderson; Fabinho, Toulalan, Pasalic; Silva, Martial, Cavaleiro


Head To Head

Monaco boast a good record against Toulouse, having lost only three of their 19 games at the Stadium Municipal.

Indeed, Les Rouges et Blancs have lost only once away to Le Tefece since January 2001, which came when a brace for Moussa Sissoko saw AS beaten in February 2011.

On the Monagasque's last visit to Midi-Pyrenees outfit, they ran 4-1 winners towards the end of last season.


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We say: Toulouse 0-2 Monaco

Monaco's defeat at Valencia may convince Toulouse that their opponents' confidence could be brittle, but if Jardim's angry response is a guide, then AS may want to put on a performance to boost their chances of competing for a top-three place or better.



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Toulouse's French Tunisian forward Wissam Ben Yedder jubilates after scoring during the French L1 football match Guingamp versus Toulouse on May 16, 2015
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1Paris Saint-GermainPSG12102036102632
2MonacoMonaco1282221101126
3Marseille1272327161123
4Lille126421911822
5Nice1255223121120
6Lyon125431916319
7Auxerre126152119219
8Reims125342016418
9Lens124531312117
10Toulouse124351314-115
11StrasbourgStrasbourg123452124-313
12Brest124171622-613
13Saint-EtienneSt Etienne124171125-1413
14Le HavreLe Havre124081023-1312
15Rennes123271319-611
16NantesNantes122461419-510
17Angers122461321-810
18Montpellier HSCMontpellier122191132-217


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