PSG/Toulouse – Toulouse profile: a side with a bit more going forward | OneFootball

This Friday, April 3, Paris Saint-Germain (1st) take on Toulouse (9th) at the Parc des Princes (kick-off at 8:45 pm, live on Ligue1+) on Matchday 28 of the 2025-2026 Ligue 1 season. And as before every match, here is a presentation of Paris’ opponents.

Toulouse’s situation –

Appointed in the summer of 2023 to replace Philippe Montanier, who had finished a very respectable 13th with 48 points while also winning the Coupe de France, coach Carles Martinez Novell has done a fairly good job establishing himself with a very solid team since last season, though one with attacking weaknesses. Enough to finish in a “comfortable” 10th place in the 2024-2025 campaign and currently sit 9th, with a slightly more convincing attack.

The idea is still to do better, even if this club does not yet seem well enough equipped for the European race, with a lack of consistency proving costly. Even if it is not over yet thanks to a certain collective strength, not to mention a Coupe de France semi-final still to come. The quality of the work done without major investment in the transfer market should be highlighted.

The summer 2025 transfer window –

Source: Transfermarkt.

Departures:

Arrivals:

The winter 2025/2026 transfer window –

Source: Transfermarkt.

Departures:

Arrivals:

Key statistics –

This season, Toulouse have the 9th best attack in Ligue 1 with 38 goals scored (leaders PSG have 58, while bottom sides Le Havre and Auxerre have 22), and the 4th best defense with 32 goals conceded (PSG have the best defense with 22 goals conceded, while bottom side Metz have 60).

Toulouse’s top scorer is Yann Gboho (a 25-year-old winger); with 8 goals, he is 11th in the league (Ligue 1’s top scorer is Joaquin Panichelli with 16 goals). Aron Donnum (a 27-year-old winger) is the club’s top assist provider with 5 assists and is 10th in Ligue 1 (Adrien Thomasson is first with 9 assists).

Toulouse’s last 5 matches –

Only Toulouse’s possession is listed, and Toulouse’s shots are shown first (when the data is available).

28/02/2026 (Ligue 1) – Rennes/Toulouse: 1-0. In a 3-4-2-1. 35% possession. 9 shots including 2 on target, compared to 10 shots (2 on target).

04/03/2026 (Coupe de France) – Marseille/Toulouse: 2-2 (3-4 on penalties). In a 3-4-2-1. 38% possession. 10 shots including 4 on target, compared to 14 shots (3 on target).

07/03/2026 (Ligue 1) – Toulouse/Marseille: 0-1. In a 3-4-2-1. 49% possession. 12 shots including 2 on target, compared to 10 shots (3 on target).

15/03/2026 (Ligue 1) – Metz/Toulouse: 3-4. In a 3-4-2-1. 50% possession. 19 shots including 6 on target, compared to 17 shots (8 on target).

21/03/2026 (Ligue 1) – Toulouse/Lorient: 1-0. In a 3-4-2-1. 42% possession. 12 shots including 4 on target, compared to 7 shots (2 on target).

The squad –

Unavailable – Cresswell, Franchis, Magri, Messali (injuries), Hidalgo (suspension).

Probable lineup in a 3-4-3.

Gboho – Emersonn – Donnum

Methalie – Diop – Casseres – Kamanzi

Nicolaisen – McKenzie – Sidibé

Restes

Toulouse’s style of play.

Carles Martinez Novell, who came through FC Barcelona’s youth teams, likes to rely on a solid, compact block, with a style based on quick combinations and repeated passing moves. This collective is often difficult to break down, but it does not especially dominate possession. We can expect a match in which PSG have a lot of the ball and must find solutions with plenty of tempo and precision in order to create chances as well.

It is far from an easy game for the restart just after the international break. And Toulouse also have certain qualities on the ball. The Parisians will have to coordinate their efforts well so that their pressing is effective and they remain alert at all times against transitions.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.