Toulouse vs Lorient prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2022-08-20 13:00.
Last Sunday evening’s action brought newcomers Toulouse their first French top-flight win since October 2019, with a 3-0 romp at Troyes seeing them begin the new week inside the top-four. In turn, history potentially beckons for this fixture, with Toulouse last attaining successive top-flight wins back in August/September 2018.
It has been eight years since Toulouse managed a top-half placing amongst France’s elite, and strong home form is expected to be a cornerstone towards them ending that hoodoo. H2H history implies a potential speed bump here though, with opponents Lorient getting the better of them on five Ligue 1 occasions in front of their own fans (W3, D4, L5).
With a week’s extra rest due to a postponement, Lorient will have a physical edge from the very outset here. So too will they travel full of confidence after a shock 1-0 opening day win at European aspirants Rennes, setting Lorient up to potentially start a Ligue 1 campaign with two wins – something never managed in any of their previous 15 top-flight seasons!
Utilising that extra energy could also help Lorient net first, and improve further on their poor league record as travelling underdogs spanning back to the start of 2021/22 (W3, D6, L11). The omens are certainly good if they do strike the opener, as Les Merlus have avoided conceding an equaliser at any point during their last nine Ligue 1 away victories.
Players to watch: Opening day scorer Thijs Dallinga can become only the fourth Toulouse player this century to net from open play in both of the first two home games in a Ligue 1 season, while striker in opposition Terem Moffi is expected to lead the line for Lorient again, though his last four goalscoring road trips have seen them end up losing!
Hot stat: Five of the last seven Ligue 1 H2Hs have seen a 1-0 half-time scoreline.