With their spot amongst France's finest crop secured for a third straight season, Toulouse will welcome an in-form Montpellier HSC side to Stadium de Toulouse on Friday evening in Ligue 1.
Les Violets are targeting a last-gasp push towards possible European qualification, whilst La Paillade are just one more victory away from securing their safety at the top table of French football.
Match preview
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Since returning from March's international break, Toulouse have strung together an impressive run of form which has officially preserved their place in Ligue 1 until at least the summer of 2025, with Les Violets enjoying a five-match unbeaten spell - one which was extended expertly at Stade du Moustoir on Sunday.
Following Julien Ponceau's shock opener for relegation-threatened Lorient, it appeared as if the strugglers were heading towards a much-needed maximum in the context of their battle for survival, but the last laugh was afforded to visiting Toulouse, who bagged two second-half goals via Thijs Dallinga and Ibrahim Cissoko.
After collecting a commendable tally of 11 points from the last 15 available since Easter Sunday's trip to bottom side Clermont Foot, Carles Martinez's men have an outside chance of sneaking into the Europa Conference League at the end of this term, but there is a six-point gap to sixth-placed Lens with three matches left to play.
Netting his 12th goal of the Ligue 1 campaign at Lorient last time out, flying Dutchman Dallinga equalled his league tally from his debut season in 2022-23, with the 23-year-old once again being the primary source of attacking spark in a side who have endured some struggles this term.
Unusually, Les Violets have fared poorer at their Stadium de Toulouse base than on their top-flight travels this season, with Martinez's charges collecting seven of their 10 league victories so far on the road, earning just 16 points from 15 contests in front of their home faithful.
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Mirroring Friday's hosts Toulouse, Montpellier have enjoyed a five-game unbeaten run and the collection of 11 points since returning from the international pause to seriously boost their chances of avoiding the dreaded drop into Ligue 2, a division the club have not operated in during the last decade.
Ending his heavily-discussed drought in front of goal, La Paillade marksman Akor Adams made the net ripple for the first time since October to give his side a second-minute lead against Nantes last time out, but Les Canaris forced a share of the spoils courtesy of Matthis Abline's strike.
Having only tasted defeat against Kylian Mbappe and Paris Saint-Germain over the past eight matches, Michel Der Zakarian's men have put themselves on the brink of rubber-stamping their Ligue 1 status, with Friday's visitors needing just two points from their last three matches of the term.
Montpellier have earned six of their nine Ligue 1 victories on the road this season, meaning that La Paillade would be fighting for a spot on the continental stage if the division was determined purely on away form.
Team News
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After being subbed off during the half-time interval versus Lorient, Gabriel Suazo is not expected to start Friday's clash for Toulouse versus Montpellier.
Niklas Schmidt replaced the Chilean for the second period and provided a brilliant assist as Les Violets completed a comeback over the Ligue 2-bound side.
Following their dismissals during the closing moments of the stalemate with Nantes, both Lucas Mincarelli and Arnaud Nordin will be suspended for this match.
Wahbi Khazri has fallen out of favour with Montpellier's manager and did not feature in the matchday squad last time out, with the 33-year-old expected to miss out once again here.
Continuing to evolve into a first-team star, Axel Guegin suffered a cruciate ligament injury in February, which has now ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign.
Toulouse possible starting lineup:
Restes; Keben, Costa, Nicolaisen, Diarra; Aboukhlal, Spierings, Schmidt, Sierro, Donnum; Dallinga
Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:
Lecomte; Tchato, Jullien, Sagnan, Sylla; Omeragic, Chotard; Fayad, Savanier, Al-Taamari; Adams
We say: Toulouse 1-1 Montpellier HSC
Considering their questionable form in front of their own supporters, home advantage is set to mean little for Toulouse as they welcome Montpellier to the Southern France.
Les Violets have meetings with PSG and third-placed Brest to round off the campaign, meaning that Friday's clash represents the final realistic opportunity to earn some points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
