Ligue 1 | Gameweek 26

Mar 16, 2025 at 4.15pm UK

Stade de la Meinau

Strasbourg vs Toulouse

Match preview

Having battled relegation from Ligue 1 for the past two seasons - surviving by five points in 2022-23 and 10 points last season - Strasbourg are in a much improved position for 2024-25.

The Blue and Whites are challenging for a top-six finish in Ligue 1 as they look to secure European football for the first time since losing to Basel in the last 16 of the 2005-06 UEFA Cup.

Liam Rosenior, who took over in July 2024, has guided Strasbourg to 40 points from 11 wins, seven draws and seven defeats in 25 league games, just two points behind sixth-placed Lyon.

The hosts have been in particularly good form in recent weeks, winning eight, drawing three and losing just one of their last 12 league games to climb from 14th to seventh.

That run includes a five-match unbeaten streak heading into this fixture, a run in which Strasbourg have scored six goals and conceded none, putting them in an excellent position heading into Sunday's clash.

Strasbourg's form and league position mean they will be favourites on Sunday, although their opponents, Toulouse, could prove to be a challenge.

Promoted from Ligue 2 in 2021-22, Toulouse have gradually improved in their two years in the top flight, finishing 13th in 2022-23 and 11th in 2023-24.

However, Carles Martinez's side endured a miserable start to the 2024-25 campaign, winning just one of their opening eight games, losing four and drawing three.

That left them just above the relegation zone in 15th, but the Violets have since won eight, drawn four and lost five to climb out of the relegation zone and into 10th.

Toulouse are now 13 points clear of 16th-placed Le Havre, making relegation unlikely, while they are just eight points behind sixth-placed Lyon.

Martinez will be hoping his side can build on their recent form - two wins and a draw - to move closer to the top six and potentially secure European qualification.

However, Strasbourg have a fantastic record in this fixture, having won 10, drawn four and lost just once in the last 15 meetings between the two sides.

Recent Performance

Strasbourg Ligue 1 form:LWWDWW

Strasbourg form (all competitions):LWWDWW

Toulouse Ligue 1 form:DDLWWD

Toulouse form (all competitions):LDLWWD

Team News

Abakar Sylla is suspended after picking up a red card earlier this month, while Dilane Bakwa is also suspended after picking up 10 yellow cards during the season.

Andrew Omobamidele (Achilles), Habib Diarra (ankle), Dion Sahi (Achilles) and Thomas Delaine (knee) are also unlikely to feature due to ongoing injury problems.

Toulouse are without Guillaume Restes (thigh), Joshua King (muscle), Niklas Schmidt (cruciate ligament), Rasmus Nicolaisen (ankle) and Zakaria Aboukhlal (thigh).

With two wins and a draw from their last three matches, Martinez is expected to name a similar starting XI, including Frank Magri in attack after the striker scored in each of his last three appearances.

Possible starting lineup

Strasbourg possible starting lineup:

Petrovic; Doue, Sarr, Doukoure; Bakwa, Santos, Barco, Moreira; Lemarechal, Nanasi; Emegha

Toulouse possible starting lineup:

Haug; Sidibe, Cresswell, McKenzie; Messali, Canvot, Sierro, Suazo; Donnum, Babicka; Magri