Ligue 1
Toulouse FC vs. Olympique Lyonnais kicks off at 19:45 [GMT+1] on Saturday, August 22, at Stadium de Toulouse. Toulouse will hope a new head coach can build on their encouraging finish to last season when they welcome Champions League hopefuls Lyon to the Stadium de Toulouse this game week. After a third consecutive mid-table finish, Les Violets parted company with Carles Martínez Novell and appointed Jens Berthel Askou, who becomes only the second Danish manager to take charge in France’s top flight. The 43-year-old inherits a side that ended 2025/26 on a positive note, going unbeaten in their final four Ligue 1 matches [LDWWD]. Askou will also be encouraged by the club’s strong record in opening fixtures. Le Téfécé have avoided defeat in each of their last five Ligue 1 season openers, recording two victories and three draws [2W, 3D, 0L], while their home record on the first matchday is even more impressive. They have not lost their first top-flight home fixture in any of the last 18 seasons [14W, 4D, 0L]. The hosts have also transformed their recent fortunes against Lyon. Toulouse completed a league double over Les Gones last term, including a 2-1 home victory on the penultimate matchday, after previously failing to win any of the preceding 18 head-to-head meetings [0W, 3D, 15L]. Their latest Danish addition could be key to their ambitions, with Thomas Jørgensen arriving from Viborg in a club-record deal and expected to make an immediate impact. However, Toulouse will be without suspended duo Alexis Vossah and Dayann Methalie. A 4—2—3—1 pattern with Santiago Hidalgo leading the attacking line may be seen against OL.
Lyon, meanwhile, enter the contest with European ambitions after securing their highest Ligue 1 finish in five years last season. Their fourth-place finish earned them a place in the Champions League qualifying rounds, although their European adventure has already begun, with Les Gones drawing 1-1 away to Fenerbahçe in Tuesday’s play-off first leg. That result extended a demanding start to the campaign, while their poor Ligue 1 finish to 2025/26 leaves them in danger of losing three consecutive league matches for the first time since December 2023. Away from home, Paulo Fonseca’s men were inconsistent last term, winning and losing six of their 17 Ligue 1 road games, alongside five draws [6W, 6D, 5L]. OL remain without injured Pavel Šulc and Khalis Merah, as Toulouse may sense an opportunity to exploit any fatigue from their European commitments. A 4—1—2—3 formation with Loïs Openda, Malick Fofana, and Ernest Nuamah starting upfront is expected against Toulouse.