Saint-Etienne vs. Toulouse Prediction, Match Preview and Betting Tips, 17 May 2025

The final day of Ligue 1 brings us a critical match between Saint-Etienne and Toulouse at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. Scheduled for an 8:00 PM kick-off, this fixture holds significant importance, especially for Saint-Etienne, who are in a relegation battle. Currently seated 17th with 30 points, they need a win to stay in the top tier of French football.

Despite being the bookmakers’ favourite, helmed by Eirik Horneland, Saint-Etienne will be without their top scorer Lucas Stassin due to injury. Toulouse, 12th on the table, are in better form and positioned more comfortably with 39 points.

Betting predictions favour a Toulouse win, given their recent performances and the turbulence in the Saint-Etienne camp.

Expect tension and excitement, with both teams fighting for every inch of the pitch under the watchful eye of referee Thomas Leonard.

Saint-Etienne vs Toulouse Prediction & Betting Tip

• Toulouse have shown better form recently, with a win and a draw in their last two matches.
• Saint-Etienne is without their top scorer, Lucas Stassin, making their goal-scoring threat less potent.
• The away team, Toulouse, has a better season record and looks more likely to capitalize on Saint-Etienne’s defensive vulnerabilities.

Saint-Etienne vs Toulouse Odds

Recent form suggests that Toulouse might have the edge, reflected in the odds. Saint-Etienne’s odds of 2.03 show them as slight favourites, but their recent struggles and injuries, especially to top scorer Lucas Stassin, could impact their performance. Toulouse’s odds at 3.15 suggest they’re very much in for a chance, given their slightly better form and Saint-Etienne’s defensive frailties. A draw, with odds of 3.96, seems less likely but cannot be completely ruled out in a match of this importance.

Saint-Etienne Team Analysis

Saint-Etienne Recent Performance

Saint-Etienne’s recent form has been mixed, with two wins, two losses, and a draw in their last five outings. Their average goals scored in these matches stands at 1.80, showing a decent attacking capability even though they’ve managed just one clean sheet. The recent victory over Reims was a significant boost in their battle to avoid relegation, highlighting their fighting spirit.

They’ll need to maintain that level of performance against Toulouse, especially given the absence of their top scorer, Lucas Stassin, due to injury. Every match is critical as they aim to secure their Ligue 1 status.

Saint-Etienne Key Players

Saint-Etienne’s key players will need to step up in this crucial clash against Toulouse. With top scorer Lucas Stassin sidelined due to a muscle injury, others will have to fill the void.
Expect Aimen Moueffek and Pierre Ekwah to be vital in midfield, providing both defensive coverage and creative impetus. Up front, Irvin Cardona, Ibrahima Wadji, and Zuriko Davitashvili will be the main attacking threats.
Individual battles, such as Gautier Larsonneur against Toulouse’s forwards and the defensive duo of Maxime Bernauer and Mickael Nade, will be essential in keeping a clean sheet.

Expected lineup for Saint-Etienne:

• Goalkeeper: Gautier Larsonneur
• Defenders: Dennis Appiah, Maxime Bernauer, Mickael Nade, Leo Petrot
• Midfielders: Aimen Moueffek, Pierre Ekwah, Florian Tardieu
• Forwards: Irvin Cardona, Ibrahima Wadji, Zuriko Davitashvili

Their combined efforts will be crucial in their bid to stave off relegation.

Saint-Etienne Suspensions & Injuries

Saint-Etienne will be missing two key players due to injuries for their crucial match against Toulouse:

These absences will be significant, particularly with Lucas Stassin, the team’s top scorer with 12 goals, unavailable. His absence will pressure other forwards like Irvin Cardona and Ibrahima Wadji to step up. Augustine Boakye’s injury weakens their defensive options further.

The team will need to rely on a collective effort to compensate for these notable absences.

Saint-Etienne Tactics and Formation

Saint-Etienne Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 4-3-3
• Key Forward: Ibrahima Wadji (with Lucas Stassin out due to injury)
• Midfield Trio: Aimen Moueffek, Pierre Ekwah, Florian Tardieu
• Defensive Strength: Managed just one clean sheet in their last five games, indicating room for improvement at the back.
• Notable Strategy: Looking to control possession in midfield and utilize the attacking prowess of their wingers, Irvin Cardona and Zuriko Davitashvili.

Eirik Horneland will likely emphasize a solid defense due to their relegation battle. With key players absent, teamwork and tactical discipline will be crucial for Saint-Etienne.

Toulouse Team Analysis

Toulouse Recent Performance

Toulouse have had a mixed bag of results in their last five matches, with their recent form showing inconsistency. They managed one win, two draws, and two losses. Despite these varied results, they are positioned 12th in the Ligue 1 standings with 39 points.

Toulouse have averaged just 0.80 goals per game and kept one clean sheet in their last five games. Their defence has been relatively solid, conceding 1.2 goals on average this season. With a midfield powered by the likes of Cristian Casseres Jr. and Vincent Sierro, and the attacking threat from players like Joshua King, they have the potential to trouble the Saint-Etienne defence.

Toulouse Key Players

Toulouse have several key players who could make a significant impact in this matchup against Saint-Etienne. Zakaria Aboukhlal, the team’s top scorer with 7 goals, will undoubtedly be a player to watch. His ability to find the back of the net could prove crucial, especially considering Saint-Etienne’s defensive vulnerabilities.

In midfield, Cristian Casseres Jr. and Vincent Sierro are vital for maintaining control and creating opportunities. Their battle against Saint-Etienne’s midfield trio will be essential.

Expected lineup for Toulouse:

• Goalkeeper: Guillaume Restes
• Defenders: Djibril Sidibe, Mark McKenzie, Charlie Cresswell
• Midfielders: Aron Dönnum, Cristian Casseres Jr., Vincent Sierro, Gabriel Suazo
• Attackers: Joshua King, Yann Gboho, Frank Magri

Toulouse’s midfield and attack will need to be sharp to exploit Saint-Etienne’s defensive lapses, particularly between the 61st and 75th minutes.

Toulouse Suspensions & Injuries

Toulouse face some significant challenges due to injuries as they prepare for their match against Saint-Etienne. The absence of midfielder Niklas Schmidt, out for the season with a cruciate ligament injury, will be felt. His creative spark and work rate in the centre of the park will be missed.

Additionally, the team will be without the services of Rasmus Nicolaisen, who is dealing with an ankle injury and is expected to return in late May 2025. His solidity in defence will be a big miss.

These injuries could impact Toulouse’s ability to maintain structural integrity and fluidity in their gameplay. The remaining squad members will need to step up to cover these crucial gaps.

Toulouse Tactics and Formation

Toulouse’s Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 3-4-3
• Key Forward: Frank Magri
• Midfield Duo: Cristhian Cásseres Jr, Vincent Sierro
• Defensive Setup: Djibril Sidibe, Mark McKenzie, Charlie Cresswell
• Notable Strategy: Scoring most goals in the 76-90-minute interval

Toulouse employs a 3-4-3 formation that balances defensive solidity and offensive versatility.
The defensive trio, spearheaded by Sidibe, McKenzie, and Cresswell, aims to provide robust protection in front of goalkeeper Guillaume Restes. The midfield, featuring Cásseres Jr. and Sierro, ensures control and transition play, while attackers Joshua King and Yann Gboho provide support for central forward Frank Magri.
This formation and strategy combination enable Toulouse to exploit Saint-Etienne’s weaker periods, particularly in the latter stages of the game.

Saint-Etienne vs Toulouse Head-to-Head Statistics

Saint-Etienne appears to have a slight edge in their recent encounters with Toulouse, having won three of the last five matches.

Toulouse did manage to secure a victory in their most recent meeting in December 2024, giving them a boost in confidence for this upcoming fixture.

With both teams battling for crucial points, this historic rivalry is expected to deliver another thrilling contest at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.

Odds accurate as of 15 May 2025, 20:01, and are subject to change. Please always check the odds before placing your bets with any bookmaker.