ANALYSIS. TFC – Montpellier: the neighbor spoils the Toulouse party or how the red lantern came to impose itself at the Stadium

How far away it seems, the euphoria which invaded the Toulouse residents in Lens, place of their first victory in 2025 (1-0), which opened the doors to the first part of the ranking and gave them dreams of Europe. Since then, TFC has not won in Ligue 1, and what could have been an accident against Strasbourg two weeks ago takes, after the defeat as violent as it was unexpected in the Occitanie “derby”, another reading. . Today, we especially wonder to what extent the offensive weaknesses of this team will limit it. They were erased last weekend in Lyon – where it is more excusable not to win than at home against the bottom of Ligue 1 – by a very high quality defensive performance.

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But against a Montpellier where Khazri and Savanier are nothing more than bulky shadows of the players they once were, there was much less need to defend well, much more to know how to score. Once again, Toulouse left the match with as many regrets as unconverted scoring opportunities, from this recovery from King boxed by Lecomte (30), to this header from Aboukhlal, who definitely had difficulty framing them ( 79), passing by this strike from Genreau, well served behind by Gboho, sent over (76). This is without counting all the other situations where the Violets approached the surface without shooting, and Casseres' goal, with a dry strike from 25 meters (1-0, 59th), is enough to raise questions about the sub -use of this weapon.

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“It's an option indeed” conceded after the match Carles Martinez Novell who regretted “the lack of aggressiveness in both surfaces.” In the meantime, the Catalan, who saw his team control the match from start to finish, is desperately waiting to “pass this level” which will turn the matches on the right side.

With 536 passes against 272, 66% possession against 34, 15 chances against 4, TFC undoubtedly “deserved” to win as their coach pointed out, but Modibo Sagnan who performed a little number in the area after a free kick (1-1, 62nd) and the young Othmane Maamma, (1-2, 83rd), allowed Montpellier to rob the bank and win his first points of the season away from home.

The recruitment solution?

Strangely, the absences in the defensive sector (Nicolaisen, Sidibé), have not really weakened the TFC, which has completed eight games without conceding a goal this season, but up front, where everyone is available, the Violets are not there. not arrive. One week before the end of the winter transfer window, recruiting ahead, which is the club's objective, could revitalize an attack which has once again broken its teeth against an MHSC which certainly defended well but also saw its opponent miss a lot.

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Martinez Novell believes that his current group is at the level and has the key. Gabriel Suazo, who admits that this is “not the best moment” that they are going through offensively, is convinced “that the goals will come”.

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While the TFC fell back to 10^e place, 5 points from Lyon, which occupies the last European place, the Chilean captain assures that he and his teammates are not “obsessed” by what is said about them. “Of course, we would like to qualify for Europe. Obviously. But we are moving forward step by step, without putting crazy pressure on ourselves.”