Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Ligue 1 match.
The upcoming round of the French championship opens with a clash between sides that have endured attacking woes this season. Saint-Étienne, struggling at the bottom of the table following their promotion, see this trip to an inconsistent rival as an opportunity to pick up crucial points.
Toulouse
Since the international break in November, Toulouse have suffered two goalless defeats in their last three Ligue 1 outings. Their match against AS Monaco (0:2) marked the fourth time in five appearances since early November that they have failed to surpass a total over 2.5. Against the Monegasques, who are no strangers to defensive mishaps, Toulouse only managed 0.38 xG with three shots on target. In terms of expected goals, Toulouse have fallen short by almost seven goals, scoring 15 when their xG was 21.72.
Saint-Étienne
Saint-Étienne are currently the worst team in the league for expected accurate shots (14.47). In the past month, they have managed just one goal across four Ligue 1 matches, suffering three goalless setbacks in that span. Against Marseille (0:2), Saint-Étienne deployed a defensive approach, which resulted in a mere 0.16 xG.
Toulouse vs Saint-Étienne Prediction
It is evident that Saint-Étienne will once again aim to form two solid defensive lines at the back when visiting Toulouse, relying on the attacking talents of Zuriko Davitashvili up front. Expect the underdogs to engage in a cautious affair that produces no more than two goals.
