Soccer. Racing – Toulouse (Sunday, 3 p.m.): to the tune of a new start
The context: a return phase to be launched well
The psychological shock wanted by Marc Keller, the president of Racing, by placing Julien Stéphan on foot on January 9, two days before the reception of Lens, did indeed take place. Under the orders of Mathieu Le Scornet – hitherto assistant and inducted into the head of the team in interim for two games (against Lens therefore, and in Lyon on the 14th) -, the players reacted to draw against the dolphin of PSG (2-2) at La Meinau before going to win the first Strasbourg success in Lyon since 1979 (1-2).
“We had to take our responsibilities”, soberly commented before the match Kévin Gameiro, the Strasbourg striker, while Racing pulled out of the red zone in extremis (16e) when closing the forward cycler. In view of the results and the confidence granted by the group, Mathieu Le Scornet was finally confirmed as coach.
The 39-year-old Breton technician’s mission is therefore to ensure maintenance in Ligue 1. It is up to him to confirm that the victory in Lyon, only the second of the season, was not a happy “error” on the way. . What could be better then, for that, than to offer a victory to a blue people who have been weaned since the start of the season?
To do this, the group will have to have digested the departures of two executives – Adrien Thomasson (Lens), Ludovic Ajorque (Mainz) – while Ronaël Pierre-Gabriel’s loan was cut short. The recruits landed for fifteen days – Frédéric Guilbert (Aston Villa), Eduard Sobol (Bruges) and Morgan Sanson (on loan from Aston Villa) – will perhaps succeed in bringing the breath of fresh air that the Meinau hopes for.
Above all, it will be necessary to overcome a promoted Toulouse player who is well established in his maintenance plan. The Téfécé, twelfth, does not bother with exploits against the “big guys”, as evidenced by the 6-1 slap received at the Vélodrome on December 29, but only very rarely misses against the “his” teams. ‘ championship. The Toulouse went, for example, to win at Auxerre (5-0) on January 11, ten days after beating Ajaccio at home (2-0). Philippe Montanier’s men have only lost once against a team from the second half of the table, in Nantes on August 28.
News of the day: a group of 18, without Fila, on loan in Belgium
As Kader Mangane, Racing’s sports coordinator, named him this Saturday at the end of the pre-match session – in which the player took part – the Polish Karol Fila will be loaned (without the option of purchase) from this Sunday at SV Zulte Waregem, in the Pro League, the Belgian elite.
The right-back (under contract until June 2025), who was to win this season and be challenged by Colin Dagba, on loan from PSG, failed to materialize the hopes placed in him, mainly due to a cascade of injuries. Again fit, the 24-year-old defender has descended in the hierarchy since the return last week of Frédéric Guilbert, who has signed a lease until June 2026.
While Colin Dagba is also returning from injury, Karol Fila’s playing time was likely to decrease as well. He will therefore try to win until the end of the season in the jersey of SC Zulte Waregem, 16th in the Pro League.
The Pole is therefore not part of the group of 18 players (including the two goalkeepers Matz Sels and Robin Risser) summoned by Mathieu Le Scornet. If the Japanese Yuito Suzuki, who arrived on loan with an option to buy on Friday, is not qualified, the other three recruits for this winter transfer window could be established.
Frédéric Guilbert, whose last match at La Meinau dates back to May 14, 2022 against Clermont, will not be out of place and should occupy the right lane. In contrast, the Ukrainian Eduard Sobol should make his debut in the lair of Racing, just like Morgan Sanson, who will wear the blue jersey until the end of the season, on loan from Aston Villa.
If the group disputed, this Saturday, oppositions on reduced ground with defenses at four, Mathieu Le Scornet should not modify the tactical plan in 5-3-2 which allowed the Strasbourgeois to resist Lens at Meinau (2 -2) then to win in Lyon (1-2).
The probable Racing team
Salts – Guilbert, Perrin, Djiku, Le Marchand, Sobol – Diarra, Prcic, Sanson – Gameiro, Diallo.
Substitutes : Risser (g), Dagba, Doukouré, Liénard, Aholou, Sissoko, Mothiba.
Absent : Kawashima (shoulder), Nyamsi (adductors), Delaine (Achilles heel), Bellegarde (ankle), Kandil (recovery).
The number: 6
Toulouse is the current Ligue 1 team against which Racing striker Kévin Gameiro has scored the most goals in the top flight (6). Gameiro notably scored the equalizer for the Alsatian club in the first leg in October (2-2).