Ajaccio will continue their battle against relegation from Ligue 1 when they welcome Toulouse to Stade Francois Coty on Sunday afternoon.

The home side are currently 19th in the table, 10 points from the safety of 16th position with five games left, while Toulouse occupy 13th, nine points clear of the relegation zone.

Match preview

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Ajaccio were promoted back to Ligue 1 for the 2022-23 campaign courtesy of finishing second in Ligue 2 last season, but they are facing the prospect of dropping back down into the second tier for next term.

The Bears have picked up just 22 points from their 33 league games this season courtesy of a record of six wins, four draws and 23 defeats, which has left them 10 points from the safety of 16th position.

As a result, Olivier Pantaloni's side will have to pull off a great escape in order to retain their status at this level, but the team's form in recent weeks has been worrying.

Indeed, Ajaccio have not been victorious in France's top flight since the end of February, losing seven of their last eight matches at this level of football, including a 3-0 reverse to Lille last time out.

The Bears will head to Paris Saint-Germain in their next match after this one, and they will surely need to triumph on Sunday to stand any chance of escaping the relegation zone at this late stage of the season.

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Toulouse, meanwhile, won Ligue 2 last season to secure a return to this level, and they are in a strong position to avoid dropping straight back down into the second tier for next term.

A total of 41 points from 33 matches has left Philippe Montanier's side in 13th position in the table, nine points clear of 17th-placed Nantes on the same number of games.

Mathematically, Toulouse can still be relegated this term, but it would take an extraordinary turn of events, and they will be bidding to return to winning ways on Sunday following a 1-0 loss to Lens last time out.

Les Violets have actually won four of their last six matches in all competitions, including a 5-1 success over Nantes in the Coupe de France final on April 29, which saw the team land the trophy in spectacular fashion.

Toulouse are only two points behind 12th-placed Montpellier and should be looking up the division rather than down at this stage, while they will be bidding to do the league double over Ajaccio following a 2-0 success in the reverse fixture earlier this season.

Team News

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Ajaccio will be missing three players through suspension for Sunday's match, with Yoann Touzghar, Ismael Diallo and Mounaim El Idrissy all unavailable for selection.

Meanwhile, the home side will be without the services of Mickael Alphonse, Mickael Barreto and Romain Hamouma due to injury problems.

Head coach Pantaloni is expected to resist the temptation to make wholesale changes from the side that took to the field against Lille last time out, but Ivane Chegra could come in for a start.

As for Toulouse, Rhys Healey remains unavailable for selection due to a serious knee injury, but the visitors are otherwise in good shape ahead of this match.

Despite the disappointment of the defeat to Lens, the bulk of the XI that started that match should again take to the field for Sunday's encounter with Ajaccio.

There is likely to be a return to the XI for leading goalscorer Thijs Dallinga, though, with the 22-year-old finding the back of the net on 12 occasions in France's top flight this term.

Ajaccio possible starting lineup:
Leroy; Youssouf, Gonzalez, Vidal, Diallo; Chegra, Marchetti, Mangani, Spadanuda; Soumano, Bayala

Toulouse possible starting lineup:
Dupe; Rouault, Costa, Diarra; Keben, Genreau, Sierro, Kamanzi; Onaiwu, Dallinga, Chaibi

We say: Ajaccio 1-2 Toulouse

Ajaccio are battling for their lives towards the bottom of the division, but it is really difficult to back them with any real confidence due to their recent struggles. Toulouse will be looking to return to winning ways on Sunday, and we are expecting the visitors to secure all three points here.

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