Today we take a look at Toulouse vs. Bordeaux, two teams that achieved goalless bore-draws last weekend in their respective fixtures. The home side will be content with another mid-table finish, while their opponents will be looking for a European spot finish, a position they are currently occupying and will hope to consolidate with three more points. Can Bordeaux continue their unbeaten streak to help them achieve their ambitions? Or will Toulouse carry on with their formidable home form and deliver a crushing blow to their opponents?
Toulouse vs. Bordeaux
3-Way: 1: Toulouse +210; X: +237 Draw; 2: Bordeaux +160
Spread 0: Toulouse +120; Bordeaux -122
Total +2.5: Over +121; Under -125
Toulouse
Toulouse was extremely poor and very lucky to survive away at a Troyes side who were on top throughout their goalless bout. It was the home side that was the only threatening side in the first half, including one chance where Troyes hit the post. In the second half, Troyes chances kept coming, and they should have got the winner through a counter letting three Troyes players goal side of the Toulouse defense. The ball was then passed to Adama Niane but his touch and finish were lacking in the required quality as he missed the goal, to Toulouse’s relief. Over the duration of the game, Toulouse barely had a sniff at goal and was lucky to gain a point in a game they would have usually lost.
It was a polar opposite performance to last week, where Toulouse was thrilling, at least when going forward. This week they were limp up front and have inexplicably continued to fail to find away form, with one away win in their last seventeen in the league. Still, they managed two goals away at last season’s champions Monaco and the talent-blessed PSG, so it will be a huge disappointment for the side that they were so toothless against a newly-promoted side when they would have expected to win.
Despite this, ninth position, where Les Pitchouns are currently placed, is a satisfying return after five games, especially as they have already played two of their most difficult fixtures, away at Monaco and PSG. Toulouse will seemingly have to rely on their home form to maintain a mid-table finish, but a few losses on the trot could see the side’s season unravel.
New signing centre-forward Corentin Jean has appeared in each of Toulouse’s last five games but is yet to score for his new side. A lot of trust has been placed in the hands of Jean, perhaps too much considering he scored just once in Ligue 1 last season in eighteen appearances for Monaco. Another forward signing Yaya Sanogo has also failed to score in his first appearances, while new winger Max Gradel has at least managed a goal in his two appearances for the club. Their lack of goals has only worsened the pain of the loss of centre-forward Martin Braithwaite to Middlesbrough, who was Toulouse’s top scorer last season, scoring eleven league goals.
Manager Pascal Dupraz will be without any injury or suspension woes.
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is still unbeaten in the league following a mind-numbing 0:0 draw away at Lille last weekend. Brazilian Bordeaux star Malcom was heavily involved throughout the match, which has become the norm, crossing for teammate Younousse Sankhare who headed over the crossbar. Soon after, a rash challenge on Malcolm saw Lille player Thiago Maia yellow carded, and then just over a quarter of an hour later Maia was awarded a second yellow card for a high and dangerous boot, again on Malcolm. The challenge was certainly a yellow card at a minimum and possibly a red, but more importantly, it opened up a door to victory for Bordeaux and for their first away win of the league campaign.
Unfortunately for Bordeaux, they were unable to make the one-man advantage count, wasting opportunity after opportunity. One chance fell to Malcom, but his shot with the outside of his boot flew straight into the keeper’s hands, Bordeaux’s only shot on target. Bordeaux’s top goalscorer and striker Younousse Sankhare was particularly wasteful in front of goal, with the best chance falling to the Senegalese following a clever one-two with teammate Jonathan Cafu, but a wayward finish went way wide. The game ended 0:0 and it was very much a wasted opportunity for Bordeaux against an out of sorts Lille side.
On the surface, a draw isn’t a terrible result as Bordeaux have still not lost and sit in fifth place after five games. However, to maintain their position they will have to start picking up some wins away from home, rather than drawing which is a result they’ve achieved in their last six away league games.
On the positive side, Malcom was once again the crux of the Bordeaux team, marauding down the flanks and looked promising despite not converting the chance that came to him. At just 20 years old, he has an exciting career ahead of him and I could imagine a Premier League club coming in at the end of the campaign with a big transfer offer. In other personal performances, attacker Sankhare had a poor day at the office, but it is likely just a one-off after impressive previous performances, scoring three goals this season so far.
Bordeaux’s biggest transfer of the summer, attacker Nicolas de Preville, made his debut last weekend against his previous club but was unable to make the difference. Other notable transfers include winger Jonathan Cafu from Ludogorets who has looked bright in his first appearances and keeper Benoit Costil who has commanded a starting position in the first team since signing.
Manager Jocelyn Gourvennec will have a full squad selection for Friday’s match.
Toulouse vs. Bordeaux – MATCH PREDICTION
This matchup should prove to be interesting, with Toulouse in good home form and Bordeaux on an unbeaten run. Furthermore, with two goalless draws in the teams’ last fixtures, you could hope that they may try to excite their fans with greater attacking play.
Overall, I would say that Bordeaux is the superior side, with two key players in Sankhare and Malcom who could make the difference. Saying that, at home, Toulouse will be resilient and I don’t think they will lose.
In conclusion, although Bordeaux is the better side, due to the home advantage and their form at their ground, I would suggest placing your bets on a draw.
MY PICK: Draw (+237)
