Toulouse vs LASK prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-10-04 19:00.
Toulouse recorded a long overdue win at the weekend as they beat Metz 3-0 at home to end a run of six prior outings without victory (D4, L2). That streak included a hard fought 1-1 draw with Belgian outfit Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in their opening UEFA Europa League (UEL) Group E encounter, a result that will have pleased manager Carles MartĂnez Novell, especially as they held on despite being reduced to ten men late on.
Picking up their first European competition group stage victory since 2009/10 remains the aim then as the Ligue 1 side welcome LASK to town looking to improve further on their unbeaten start to the season at Stadium de Toulouse (W1, D2). An impressive 1-1 stalemate with French champions PSG started that run, a result which will give them plenty of confidence as they look to also extend their tally of just two losses across their prior 11 home outings in major European competition (excluding qualifiers – W6, D3).
A 3-1 home loss to Liverpool on UEL matchday one, despite taking an early lead, has definitely set visiting LASK back as they’ve won just one of their three matches since (D1, L1). To make matters worse, that sole victory came against lower league opposition in the Austrian Cup and was followed up by a 2-1 loss to ten-man Wolfsberger, after which manager Thomas Sageder bemoaned how the goals they conceded were “very easy”.
In truth, the away side’s leaky defense has proven a big problem of late as they’ve conceded ten times across their last six outings. That said, LASK have won their last five group stage away matches in major European competition, a record they’ll be desperate to extend in southern France.
Players to watch: Toulouse’s Thijs Dallinga struck at the weekend and netted their sole UEL goal on matchday one – both of those goals came between the 40th minute and half-time. LASK’s Robert Zulj has netted five goals this season, including two during UEL qualification which both came before the 15th minute.
Hot stat: In Ligue 1 this season, Toulouse have conceded the joint-second most corners on average (6.29).