Toulouse and Lorient meet in a potential early-season relegation six-pointer at the Stadium Municipal in Ligue 1 on Sunday.

Just one point separates the two sides, who are both on very poor runs of form, which have seen them slide down the table after promising starts.

Match preview

For European competitors Toulouse, domestic form has not been up to scratch so far this season, with just one league win in their last 12.

That came at home to Metz, and form at the Stadium Municipal is the only thing keeping them above water at present, as they have lost just once here in their 10 in all competitions.

Carles Martinez's side completed an unbeaten home record in the group stage of the Europa League by drawing with Union Saint-Gilloise on Thursday, a competition they have fared much better in.

The Coupe de France winners are in the ascendancy to qualify alongside Liverpool in the section, thanks hugely to a win over the Premier League side here on matchday four.

Toulouse underwhelmed massively on Thursday night, though, registering just four shots across the entire 90 minutes, which does not bode well heading into this must-win league fixture.

With the hosts sitting just above the dotted line, it is Lorient who occupy the relegation playoff spot at present after a concerning run of their own.

Only four teams in the division have scored more goals than Regis Le Bris's side, but incredibly, they find themselves in 16th.

It is therefore no surprise to see that Lorient have the league's leakiest defence, contributed to by a 3-2 home defeat to Metz last weekend.

That result extended Lorient's record to just two wins in 13 Ligue 1 games so far this season, and sitting in 16th is perilous considering one of the sides below them is Lyon, who are still expected to eventually recover.

Making the most of their attacking ability has to be top of the agenda for Le Bris, as they have scored three goals on two occasions so far this season, but taken just one point.

After collecting five points from their opening three games, including one away at Paris Saint-Germain, one win from 10 has followed, causing a rapid slide for the visitors.

Team News

Toulouse will be without both Zakaria Aboukhlal (knee) and Oliver Zanden (hip) through injury here, but the duo are expected to return soon.

Thijs Dallinga and Niklas Schmidt both sat out their defeat at Nice last weekend through suspension and should return, especially after featuring in the Europa League in midweek.

Stijn Spierings was not present in the game against Union SG as he is not in Toulouse's Europa League squad, but he should come back into the side as he has been a regular in the league.

Le Bris has numerous injury concerns among his Lorient squad heading into this one, especially in midfield, with Ayman Kari, Aiyegun Tosin and Quentin Boisgard all out.

They are all set to return soon though, as well as Loris Mouyokolo, who is recovering from a groin strain, but fellow defender Igor Silva will spend another few weeks out.

Dembo Sylla featured for Guinea during the last international break after a month out, but he was not in the squad for the defeat to Metz last week.

Toulouse possible starting lineup:
Restes; Desler, Costa, Nicolaisen, Diarra; Schmidt, Spierings, Casseres; Donnum, Magri, Dallinga

Lorient possible starting lineup:
Mvogo; F Mendy, Laporte, Talbi, B Mendy; Faivre, Abergel, Bakayoko, Makengo; Doucoure, Kroupi

We say: Toulouse 2-2 Lorient

The hosts have not fared too well against Lorient at home in the recent past, winning just one of their previous four Ligue 1 games here, but there have been 19 goals in those previous meetings.

Lorient's goal-laden season at both ends may therefore continue in a close encounter which will likely end level, especially considering the visitor's record of just one win in 16 away league games.


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