FC Sochaux Vs FC Toulouse - French Ligue 1 preview
Stade Auguste Bonal will see an under-pressure FC Sochaux play host to high-flying Toulouse on October 1, 2011 in the Week 9 of the 2011/2012 Ligue 1 campaign.
Alain Casanova’s side is currently enjoying an excellent start to the new campaign and are in with a chance to go on top of the Ligue 1 standings if they manage to beat Sochaux – albeit for a while. Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain play eachother on Sunday which
means that Toulouse have a good chance to go on top and put pressure on the two teams that are level on points along with Toulouse at the moment.
In third place with 17 points from eight games, Casanova couldn’t have asked more. A trip to the Stade Bonal awaits the side from the pink city. Last season, Toulouse beat Sochaux 3-1 in the corresponding fixture. TFC would be hearted by the fact that their
away form has been great so far. In four away games, they have won two and drawn two.
Furthermore, Toulouse are the only side apart from Lille and PSG who are yet to taste defeat away from home. In Week 4, Toulouse lost 3-1 at home to PSG but since then, Les Pitchouns have been in great form.
Though Casanova knows that his team has a chance of putting more pressure on Sochaux, he knows that Les Lionceaux can be a dangerous opponent to underestimate. While talking to the media, the former goalkeeper said that his side needs to continue the good
run of results.
“We need to be careful, because we have achieved nothing yet. Saturday's game remains a real test for us against a side who will be absolutely desperate to end their bad run and show some pride,” the French tactician added.
Tough times
The fantastic 2010/2011 season is becoming more and more of a distant memory for Sochaux.while there’s no point denying their attacking talent, it is the defence that has to be blamed for the recent defeats.
While the attacking unit has done extremely well, the defence has already leaked in 19 goals which is something Sochaux have not done in recent seasons. Despite leading 1-0 at half time, Les Lionceaux lost 4-1 to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/AJ-Auxerre-c38247 and in their last home game, they
were thumped 6-2 by Stade Rennais. That was the first time Les Lionceaux had conceded six goals since 1992.
Defender http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mathieu-Peybernes-c24689 has asked his teammates to take the blame for all their mistakes that have put Sochaux in a tricky position. “Maybe some of the guys’ minds are elsewhere, but more than anything a lack of concentration and maturity is to blame.
It is really infuriating, we are making schoolboy errors and losing stupid goals,” the 20-year-old said while talking to the media.
Team news
Sochaux
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Damien-Perquis-c9810 is suspended for the game and Peybernes returns after serving a one-match suspension. Carlao returns after missing the last two games due to injury.
Toulouse
Etienne Didot is likely to start the game from the bench while Yohann Pele’s career is in doubt after he suffered from pulmonary embolism last year.
Predictions
With Toulouse in great form at the moment, it seems that Sochaux would find it hard to beat Les Pitchouns.
Predicted final score: Sochaux 1-2 Toulouse
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