Our prediction for this Ligue 1 match:
Toulouse
Match Time & Date:
18/03/2023
17:00
Prediction: 1-1
Lille
Stadium Municipal will host Saturday’s football game between Toulouse and Lille. Les Pitchouns desperately needed a win against Angers, and they managed to get one, with the team putting an end to their three-game losing run, but they face a difficult task against les Dogues. Since there are no fresh injury worries in the home team, Philippe Montanier is unlikely to make changes to the team that defeated les Scoistes 2-0 at the weekend.
Lille, on the other hand, aim to keep their Champions League hopes alive, but beating Toulouse on the road is easier said than done. A close encounter is on the horizon, and we believe that there is a big value in betting on draw. Benjamin Andre is banned for the match, while defensive trio Tiago Djalo – Bafode Diakite – Ismaily remains in the recovery room. A man to watch in the away team will be Canada international David, who scored a hat-trick in a 3-3 draw with Lyon.
Highlighted Player (Jose Fonte):
Born in Penafiel in 1983, Jose Miguel Da Rocha Fonte spent his early career in the lower divisions of the Portugal’s league system, and while he did join giants Benfica in 2006, he never made a single league appearance for the Eagles.
The loan spell with Crystal Palace proved crucial for the towering defender as he later secured a permanent move to Selhurst Park, performing well in three Championship campaigns. Fonte then surprised everyone when he joined League One side Southampton, but that would prove to be the best decision he has ever made, as he helped the Saints return to the Premier League before establishing himself as one of the leading central defenders in the elite division.
Rated for his aerial ability, but also quite capable on the ground, Jose Fonte even caught the eye of England’s top clubs, although a big club move never materialised for him. The late bloomer eventually played himself into the first team plans of Portugal coach Fernando Santos, making his Selecao debut at the age of 30.
Highlighted Team (Toulouse):
Toulouse are a professional football club that compete in Ligue 1. Les Pitchouns are well known for their purple jerseys with white stripes and it has to be noted that they used to wear red and yellow jerseys in the past. Toulouse welcome their opponents at Stadium Municipal and the capacity of the team’s home ground is 33.150. Stadium Municipal was used as a venue for the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
In 1982 the club secured promotion to the Ligue 1 for the first time ever and you should bear in mind that the likes of Jacques Santini and Daniel Jeandupeux were part of the team. A win over Napoli in the round 1 of the 1986/1987 UEFA Cup is considered one of the club’s biggest success as football legend Diego Maradona played for the Italian team back then, attacker Daniel Jeandupeux scored the winner for Toulouse in the penalty shoot-out. Bordeaux are regarded as the club’s fiercest rivals and the two teams face each other in Derby de la Garonne.
