Ligue 1 | Gameweek 33

May 10, 2025 at 8pm UK

Stadium de Toulouse (Toulouse)

Toulouse vs Lens

Match preview

After a disastrous five-match losing streak between the end of March and April, Toulouse have taken four points from their last two matches to secure their status as a Ligue 1 club for at least another 12 years after promotion to the top flight in 2022.

Les Violets recorded their first win in eight matches on Saturday afternoon, when goals either side of half-time from Yann Gboho and Aron Donnum were enough to earn them all three points against Rennes, who had been sacked by their own head coach at the end of the game.

A morale-boosting maximum last time out saw Carles Martinez's men move up to 38 points and sit 12th in the Ligue 1 standings ahead of this weekend's visit of Lens, seven points clear of Le Havre in the relegation play-off spot with just six points to play for.

Martinez's men were in the midst of a worrying six-game winless streak in front of their own supporters prior to last weekend's narrow victory over Rennes, with Les Violets' only other triumph at the Stadium de Toulouse in 2025 coming against minnows Laval in the Coupe de France on 15 January.

Having scored just 19 times in 16 Ligue 1 home games this term, Toulouse have struggled to set the world alight on their own turf, so Saturday night's encounter should be a closely contested affair.

After a glamorous Champions League campaign in 2023-24, Lens have returned to the rough-and-tumble of domestic life this time around, with Saturday night's visitors failing to qualify for European competition in what remains of a highly competitive Ligue 1 season.

Les Sang et Or's winning and losing streak continued on Sunday afternoon, with goals from Gouduine Koyalipou and Anass Zaroury proving enough for the possession-starved visitors at the Groupama Stadium.

Lens, who have struggled for form of late, are no longer in contention for a European spot this term, with Will Still's men currently sitting in eighth, nine points behind sixth-placed Strasbourg, who are thriving under Englishman Liam Rosenior.

Les Sang et Or have an excellent away record in Ligue 1 this term, picking up 28 points from 16 outings, with only reigning champions and European finalists Paris Saint-Germain (37) picking up more on the road.

Lens have won each of their last three trips to the Stadium de Toulouse dating back to October 2014, when a young Benjamin Bourigeaud was on the scoresheet in a two-goal victory for the visitors.

Recent Performance

Toulouse Ligue 1 form:LLLLDW

Lens Ligue 1 form:LWLWLW

Team News

Toulouse are currently without their top scorer Zakaria Aboukhlal, who is unlikely to feature this season due to a muscle injury. Les Violets are also without the services of Niklas Schmidt, who has been sidelined since January with a serious knee problem.

Noah Edjouma, who received a straight red card against Nantes on 27 April, remains suspended for Saturday night's visit of Les Sang et Or.

Lens have a number of players out for the rest of the season, including Remy Lascary (knee) and striker M'Bala Nzola (knee).

Neil El Aynaoui is suspended for the visitors, while Denis Petric and Jhoanner Chavez are recovering from back and ankle problems respectively.

Possible starting lineup

Toulouse possible starting lineup:

Restes; Sidibe, Cresswell, Canvot; Kamanzi, Casseseres Jr, Sierro, Donnum; Gboho, King, Magri

Lens possible starting lineup:

Ryan; Gradit, Bah, Medina; Ojediran, Mendy, Zaroury, Thomasson, Machado; Koyalipou, Diouf