Connect with us

Ligue 1

Paris Saint-Germain vs Toulouse Preview – Prediction, how to watch & potential line-ups

Paris Saint-Germain’s bid to conquer Ligue 1 for a record 11th time continues on Saturday at home to newly-promoted Toulouse.

Kylian Mbappe wasted an early spot-kick despite being handed two attempts and subsequently picked up a thigh problem, which didn’t stop PSG from claiming a 3-1 triumph at Montpellier on Wednesday. 

Christophe Galiter’s team head into this round five points clear at the top of the tree, yet Mbappe’s injury that will keep him away from Paris’ Champions League last-16 home clash against Bayern Munich was a hefty price to pay.

However, complacency has seemingly become PSG’s enemy in 2023, as they’ve gone winless in two of their four league outings since the turn of the year (D1, L1), including a 1-1 home draw against Reims last weekend. 

That was the first time Les Parisiens dropped points after taking the lead at home since May 2022, so Galtier will demand more determination from his men against a Toulouse side they thrashed 3-0 in August. 

Safe in mid-table comfort, nine points clear of the relegation line, the visitors are aware they’re unlikely to challenge for the European spots despite an overwhelming 4-1 midweek win over Troyes at home.

Philippe Montanier’s lads fought back from an early deficit to maintain an almost perfect seven-game start to the new calendar year (W6, D1) and set themselves up nicely for this travel.

Toulouse are enjoying their longest unbeaten start to a new calendar year in Ligue 1 for over a decade (W4, D1), suggesting this may not be a walk in the park for PSG after all.


Match Preview

Paris Saint-Germain

Virtually unplayable at the Parc des Princes, PSG haven’t lost any of their last 32 home Ligue 1 outings (W27, D5), which stands as the best current run in Europe’s top-five leagues. 

Their outrageous home form will likely continue this weekend as they’ve racked up ten victories in their last 11 top-flight home clashes against Toulouse (D1), except for a scoreless draw in February 2017. 

With Mbappe ruled out and Neymar’s availability still in the balance, PSG’s bid to add to an impressive scoring tally of 100 goals across their last 35 home league meetings with promoted sides could be in jeopardy.

Toulouse

After taking down Auxerre and Strasbourg by an aggregate score of 7-1 on their last two Ligue 1 travels, Toulouse could register a third top-flight away win in a row for the first time since 2014.

However, that’s a seemingly unlikely scenario, given that they’ve lost their last five meetings with PSG in Ligue 1 without finding the back of the net. 

On top of their misfortunes against Les Parisiens, Le Tefece have lost by a 3+ goal margin in both prior visits to a current top-three team this season.

Paris Saint-Germain vs Toulouse Potential Line-ups

Paris Saint-Germain (4-4-2): Gianluigi Donnarumma; Nuno Mendes, Timothee Pembele, Marquinhos, Achraf Hakimi; Renato Sanches, Danilo Pereira, Vitinha, Carlos Soler; Hugo Ekitike, Lionel Messi

Toulouse (4-3-3): Maxime Dupe; Mikkel Desler, Anthony Rouault, Rasmus Nicolaisen, Gabriel Suazo; Zakaria Aboukhlal, Stijn Spierings, Branco van den Boomen; Fares Chaibi, Thijs Dallinga, Ado Onaiwu.

How to Watch?

PSG vs Toulouse, coupled with all other Ligue 1 fixtures, is available to watch online via Ligue 1 live streams.

Paris Saint-Germain vs Toulouse Prediction

In ‘normal circumstances,’ this would be a definition of a one-sided affair in its strictest sense. 

But with PSG plagued by injuries and Toulouse enjoying a form of their life, we can see the hosts dropping points again.

Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Toulouse

More in Ligue 1