This Saturday, February 15, Paris Saint-Germain (1st) take on Toulouse (10th) at the Stadium (kick-off 9.05pm, UTC+1) as part of Matchday 22 of Ligue 1 2024-2025. And, as before every match, here’s a presentation of the Parisians’ opponents.
The Toulouse situation –
Having arrived in the summer of 2023 to replace Philippe Montanier, who had finished in a very respectable 13th place with 48 points, while winning the Coupe de France, coach Carles Martinez Novell has rather succeeded in establishing himself with a rather interesting game and a rather positive position for this club which doesn’t seem (yet?) armed for the European battle.
The Toulousans are 10th, 6 points behind 6th-placed Olympique Lyonnais and as far ahead of 15th-placed Nantes. The key will be to maintain a minimum of regularity, so as not to get too close to the worrying positions. And perhaps dream a little, by achieving a fine series of results. To achieve this, we’ll need to score more goals, although our defence is solid.
The 2024 summer mercato –
Source: Transfermarkt.
Departures:
Arrivals:
The 2024/2025 winter mercato –
Source: Transfermarkt.
Departures:
Arrivals:
Key statistics –
This season, Toulouse have the 14th best attack in the league with 23 goals scored (the leaders, PSG, are on 58 and the last, Le Havre, is on 17), and have the 4th best defense with 24 goals conceded (Lens and PSG are 1st with 20 goals conceded and the last, Montpellier, is on 48).
Toulouse’s top scorer is 24-year-old striker Zakaria Aboukhlal, who ranks 18th in the league with 6 goals (Ligue 1 leader Ousmane Dembélé has 16). Gabriel Suazo (27-year-old left-back) is Toulouse’s top passer with 4 assists, ranking 20th in Ligue 1 (the top 5 have 6 assists).
Toulouse’s last 5 games –
Only Toulouse possession is shown and Toulouse shots are put first (when data is available).
18/01/2025 (Ligue 1) – Lyon/Toulouse: 0-0. 3-4-2-1 formation. 37% possession. 13 shots including 4 on target vs. 11 shots (3 on target).
26/01/2025 (Ligue 1) – Toulouse/Montpellier: 1-2. In 3-4-2-1. 67% possession. 15 shots, including 6 on target, against 6 shots (4 on target).
02/02/2025 (Ligue 1) – Toulouse/Nice: 1-1. In 3-4-2-1. 54% possession. 15 shots including 4 on target vs. 13 shots (3 on target).
05/02/2025 (French Cup) – Toulouse/Guingamp: 0-2. In 3-4-2-1. 48% possession. 8 shots including 1 on target vs. 8 shots (3 on target).
09/02/2025 (Ligue 1) – Auxerre/Toulouse: 2-2. 3-4-2-1 formation. 46% possession. 7 shots including 3 on target vs. 9 shots (3 on target).
The squad and probable team.
#TFCPSG, le 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗻 😈
Avec le retour de Djibril 💪 pic.twitter.com/fLEktD37gw
— Toulouse FC (@ToulouseFC) February 14, 2025
Absents – King, Ghobo, Nicolaisen, Schmidt (blessures).
The team according to the press in 3-4-3 (L’Equipe) :
Aboukheal – Magri – Babicka
Suazo – Sierro – Casseres – Dönnum
McKenzie – Cresswell – Canvot
Restes
Toulouse’s style of play.
Carles Martinez Novell, who came through Barcelona’s youth ranks, likes to rely on a solid, compact block, with a game based on the redoubling of passes. Maybe he’d be more attack-minded with a different squad.
There’s less rhythm and percussion than in other years, but it makes for a fairly balanced team that’s hard to play against. However, TFC suffer from a lack of attacking talent, particularly following the debut of striker Dallinga. Paris will have the ball, that’s for sure.
But beware, PSG know they must always be wary, and they mustn’t get frustrated or fall asleep against Toulouse if they are to avoid a nasty surprise in the middle of a busy schedule and a European week.
