Toulouse vs Royale Union SG prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-11-29 20:00.
Toulouse provided the major shock of matchday four in the UEFA Europa League (UEL), securing a hugely impressive 3-2 victory over six-time European champions Liverpool. That win was all the more impressive considering the Violets only returned to the top-flight last season, but they now have a huge opportunity to reach the knockout stages of the UEL as they welcome a Royale Union Saint-Gilloise side they drew 1-1 with on matchday one.
Sitting second, three points clear of their Belgian visitors, Toulouse know that simply avoiding defeat will ensure they at least continue their European campaign into the spring, although the UEL will be their goal. Carles MartĂnez Novell’s men will have to overcome some worrying recent domestic form to get the job done (D3, L3), but as they have lost just one of their last five home UEL matches (W3, D1), confidence should be high.
That includes a 2-2 draw with Belgian opponents in Club Brugge back in 2009, but the same scoreline wouldn’t do Royale Union SG much good if they want to reach the UEL knockouts. A damaging 3-0 loss at LASK earlier in the month leaves Alexander Blessin’s men in must-win territory for this trip to France, and he’ll be stressing the importance of improvements up front, as they’ve avoided defeat in each of the last five UEL proper away matches they’ve scored in (W3, D2).
Blessin may guard against an all-or-nothing approach however, as Royale Union sit just a point clear of basement boys LASK who will be keen to usurp the Unionists and steal their third-place finish, and the Europa Conference League place that goes with it. The visitors travel south bruised after seeing their eight-match winning league run ended at the weekend too, so they could ill-afford another setback here.
Key players: Thijs Dallinga has scored three of Toulouse’s six UEL goals this campaign, with all three strikes coming before the hour mark. For the visitors, Royale Union will hope Mohamed Amoura can find the net given they avoided defeat in the seven games he scored in this season (W6, D1), including the reverse H2H.
Hot streak: Toulouse have kept a first half clean sheet in their previous nine home UEL matches.