Toulouse vs Angers SCO Prediction:Struggling Toulouse Faces Winless Angers in a High-Stakes Ligue 1 Showdown

By matchday 8, Ligue 1 sees Toulouse in 16th place and Angers SCO in 18th position, both of whom hope to get themselves out of the relegation places for certain. Toulouse of Carles Martinez has won only once in seven matches, losing three in a row. Angers of Alexandre Dujeux have not won a single match this season and have extended their streak to 11 winless matches. A vital match for both teams, with Angers trying to get out of their latest slump and Toulouse trying to stem the more recent bleeding in the back, this one sees Stadium de Toulouse play host.

Both teams are out of form and under immense pressure, so this fixture promises to be a closely fought match where even the slightest changes in tactics might give one team an edge over the other. History in recent times has suggested a low-scoring encounter, but the unpredictability in the season so far raises expectations of a hard-fought contest.

Toulouse sit 16th with only one victory, in alarmingly bad form, especially in defense. Carles Martinez's men have conceded goals in each of their last three outings and go into this match after a narrow 2-1 defeat to Lille, in which they showed sparkles of resistance but could not hold on to the end. They lined up in a 3-4-2-1 formation that allowed them to create some decent opportunities-twice big chances-but also exposed them defensively. The fact that they managed to control the possession count for 42% and put on pressure through set pieces-six corners in that respect-will again be very important in this match, above all against an Angers side that often sees opponents take the lead.

Another huge concern is how inconsistent Toulouse have been at the back. They have struggled with duels and defending tackles, in which, despite the tactical setup, they won just 44% and 35% respectively in the last match. This vulnerability needs to be sorted if they have to keep Angers at bay. What will be key for Toulouse is reducing the reliance on long balls-57%-and improving the accuracy at crossing situations-22%.

The current 3-4-2-1 utilised by Toulouse is meant to help them boss the midfield, while, if possible, stretching teams out wide with the presence of their wing-backs. Having a very strong reliance on crosses and balls over the top, they do have a tendency to become quite predictable with their play. They still lack that extra bite required in breaking deep-lying defenses like Angers'. Carles Martinez is expected to focus on overloads in wide areas, especially at set-pieces, as one of the main attacking outlets. Defensively, Toulouse needs to be tighter and more aggressive in the duels to avoid Angers exploiting them by counter-attacks. High defensive line has been one of the weaknesses, and dropping deeper could limit Angers' opportunities.

Angers comes 18th, still winless, and will be desperate for a change in fortune. In the last match, Angers drew 1-1 with Marseille, but the red card in that game to Lilian Raolisoa means they will also have to make do without a key player. Angers did poorly in retention of possession, having only 24%, but were pretty resilient in defence, with three vital saves by the goalkeeper and an impressive 88% of defensive tackles won. Angers' ability to soak up pressure and look for counterattacks has been a staple of their 4-2-3-1 setup.

Lately, an inability to hold onto leads and a tendency to concede early have proved costly for them, as they have gone into the break as losers in five of their last seven games. Furthermore, its disciplinary concerns-four red cards in five games-may strike again, especially in such a high-stakes game. They will need to firm up their backline and avoid careless mistakes if they are to stifle Toulouse's attack.

Angers probably won't change their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, as a result that will likely be centered on solidity in defense and a view to countering. They will be keen on soaking up the pressure and looking to strike on the break, where quick transitions and a direct approach become their main source of attack. Given the fact that Toulouse's backline is known for its lapses in concentration, Angers will look to take advantage of those moments-mostly in wide areas of the pitch where Toulouse have shown weakness this season. Coach Alexandre Dujeux will be impressing on his side to stay true to its game discipline if it is to keep their hopes alive through a clean sheet and not lose players to cheap fouls or red cards.

The head-to-head record between the two does slightly favor Toulouse, with six wins coming against Angers' two, a further three draws separating the two. Their most recent meeting came in March 2023 when Toulouse ran out 2-0 winners. These have largely been low-scoring encounters, with six of their last seven finishing under 2.5 goals. Angers have done little to break down Toulouse's defense, and though Toulouse have the edge historically, both teams will approach this match with caution.

Other trends suggest this could be another tight encounter. Under 4.5 cards has occurred in five of their last six clashes, while the total corners have often fallen under 10.5 in eight of their last ten encounters. This suggests both teams are more about controlled, tactical games rather than wide-open, end-to-end football.

In this game, the strong points for Toulouse will be their possession control and creating pressure with set-pieces. They are a side that can grind out results against teams which struggle to impose themselves on the game, which goes to their favor against Angers. However, their defense has been pretty shaky, and inability to win duels and defend tackles efficiently makes them get exposed to counter-attacks. Toulouse must ensure that at no point in time they give Angers the opportunity to find space behind their backline, and once they do take charge of the middle of the park, it could be a matter of time before a way opens through Angers's fragile defense.

Angers, for all their winless run, are not without hope. Defensive statistics in that draw with Marseille showed they can be resilient, while their 88% tackle success rate showed they're capable of frustrating. However, Angers' tendency to concede first and struggle in the opening 45 minutes will be a concern. They might frustrate Toulouse if they see out the early pressure and not go down to 10 men once more, but failing to turn possession into goals without any sort of firepower in attack, the position they find themselves in is a vulnerable one.

• 3 Way Total Under 3 Goals @ 1.832 Odds
• Home Win + Under 3.5 Goals @ 1.6 Odds
• Under 10 Corners @ 1.80 Odds