After Monaco and Lille, Toulouse has another contender for the Ligue 1 podium on its hunt: Nice. Trailing at the break, Toulouse raised the tone in the second period to score a third success in a row in the French championship (2-1) this Sunday. Author of a goal and an assist, Thijs Dallinga was the great architect of the turnaround of the situation. The Aiglons, who had the opportunity to return to Brest, remained unsuccessful for five days. It’s starting to take a long time for an ambitious team.
What do Monaco, Lille and Nice have in common? These three teams are claiming a European place, yes. But they have also just been subject to Toulouse law. Carles Martinez’s men do not want to play referees in this fight, and it is the turn of the Aiglons to be knocked down at the Stadium. Francesco Farioli’s players, however, put themselves in a good position by quickly opening the score, certainly successfully, thanks to Terem Moffi (0-1, 8th).
Jean-Clair Todibo (Nice) in front of Thijs Dallinga (Toulouse), Sunday March 3, 2024. / Ligue 1
Credit: Eurosport
At the end of this successful action, the Italian coach was not satisfied with the performance of the Niçois, and the rest of the match proved him right. This goal put them in a comfortable situation which Toulouse ended up taking advantage of. They also came across a great Guillaume Restes, author of several decisive saves (37th, 40th, 63rd, 81st, 90th).
Three in a row for Toulouse, a first since 2018
Toulouse returned from the locker room with an even more conquering state of mind, knowing that the Nice goal never really damaged their confidence, as if the score was still 0-0. Marcin Bulka, already decisive during the first act (42nd), prolonged the suspense as best he could (50th, 59th). But the equalizer hung in the face of his team, who suffered far too much from the opposing attacks. After a duel won on the right against Romain Perraud, who had just come on, Warren Kamanzi perfectly found Thijs Dallinga in the area (1-1, 66th). In the process, the young Dutch striker made the necessary call, still on the right, to in turn serve Yann Gboho, rewarded for his efforts (2-1, 69th). In three minutes, the tide was turned.
In the final minutes, the Aiglons tried to react to at least recover the point of the draw in a hostile atmosphere, in vain. Rather, they confirmed their current poor form. Fifth, they still have a little margin over Marseille, which nevertheless arrives like a cannonball. For its part, Toulouse continues its rise in the ranking and is doing what it takes to move away from the play-off place. The club can even start dreaming of a place in the first half of the table if it continues to play with so much desire and if the mentality does not weaken.