Aiming to stretch their unbeaten run across all tournaments to four matches, Toulouse return to Ligue 1 action with the visit of Reims to Stadium Municipal on Sunday.

Les Violets went into the international break on the back of a 1-1 draw with Brest, while their visitors were put to the sword 3-1 by leaders Monaco with the help of an old flame.

Match preview

Defensive mistakes were the theme when Brest and Toulouse took to the field at the Stade Francis Le-Ble a fortnight ago, where Carles Martinez's troops sought to avoid a Europa League hangover from a 1-0 success over LASK Linz three days prior.

Les Violets broke the deadlock in unorthodox circumstances in the 27th minute, as Kenny Lala tried to shepherd the ball back to his goalkeeper, but Cristian Casseres managed to prod the ball away from the right-back and into the path of Frank Magri to tap home.

However, two Pirates substitutes combined to draw the hosts level deep into added time, as Hugo Magnetti's long-range drive was spilled by Toulouse shot-stopper Guillaume Restes, and Martin Satriano was on hand to pick up the pieces.

A third successive win was ripped from Toulouse's grasp in cruel fashion, but an 11th-placed standing in the table is still respectable for the Coupe de France holders, although they must soon juggle domestic and continental duties to a much larger degree as the days get shorter.

For the time being, though, Les Violets' sole focus is to secure a third-straight home victory across all competitions - having seen off Metz and LASK on familiar turf without conceding once - while also stretching their unbeaten run at Stadium Municipal to seven matches since losing to Lens in May.

Monaco new boy Folarin Balogun attempted to keep his celebrations to a minimum against the club who gave him a platform to ignite his career, but the ex-Arsenal man could not help but crack a smile as he helped Les Monegasques on their way to a comprehensive beating of Will Still's crew.

Ismail Jakobs finished at the back post in the first half before Balogun's fierce shot proved too hot for Yehvann Diouf to handle, and captain Wissam Ben Yedder also got in on the act as Les Monegasques went from 0-0 at 40 minutes to 3-0 up within five minutes of the second period.

Teddy Teuma was able to grab a consolation from the penalty spot for Les Rouges et Blancs, who were blessed with another 30 minutes to try to find another two goals, but the Monegasques shutters came crashing down as the hosts slumped to a two-goal beating against the early pace-setters.

Nevertheless, with successive wins over Lille and Lyon to shout about over the past few weeks, Reims remain in the European mix in fifth place in the table, and the visitors are yet to draw a blank in front of goal this season, albeit while keeping just two clean sheets at the other end.

With seven points taken from their last three away fixtures, a repeat of Reims' 3-0 beating of Toulouse in February is not beyond the realm of possibility, although Les Violets won 1-0 at Stadium Municipal last term courtesy of a Zakaria Aboukhlal strike.

Team News

Having been cautioned for the third time this season after just 10 minutes against Brest, Toulouse midfield fulcrum Stijn Spierings must serve a one-match suspension this weekend, opening the door for Vincent Sierro to come into Martinez's starting XI.

Further forward, Aboukhlal's knee injury should render the winger unavailable for another few weeks, while left-back Oliver Zanden is struggling with a hip concern and is unlikely to make the cut either.

However, Martinez still has Gabriel Suazo available to deputise for Moussa Diarra should he fancy a full-back alteration, while Magri should have done enough to hold his spot in the attack over former regular Thijs Dallinga.

While the hosts have lost a player to suspension for yellow-card accumulation, Reims boss Still welcomes right-back Thomas Foket back from a short-lived suspension of his own, and the Belgian should come straight back in for Ibrahim Diakite in the rearguard.

On a negative note, the in-form Teuma was forced to pull out of Malta's Euro 2024 qualifiers with Italy and Ukraine owing to an ankle injury, which will keep him out of this one too, while Keito Nakamura also sustained a sprain in the same area while playing for Japan and is expected to spend six weeks in the medical bay.

Reims' international break injury woes do not cease there, as Azor Matusiwa sustained an adductor issue in a recent friendly and has also been ruled out for a month, while Maxime Busi's hamstring concern may not clear up in time either.

Toulouse possible starting lineup:
Restes; Keben, Costa, Nicolaisen, Suazo; Donnum, Sierro, Casseres Jr, Begraoui; Genreau; Magri

Reims possible starting lineup:
Diouf; Foket, Okumu, Abdelhamid, De Smet; Richardson, Edoa, Munetsi; Ito, Diakite, Daramy

We say: Toulouse 1-0 Reims

Plagued by a handful of fresh injury concerns to key players, Reims' trip to Stadium Municipal could be a miserable affair for Still's side, who are without their leading goalscorer and second-highest assister in Teuma.

Les Rouges et Blancs have struggled for defensive resilience on the road either way, and with Toulouse often grinding out results in front of their own supporters, we can envisage Les Violets prolonging their unbeaten record while keeping a clean sheet in the process.


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