Expect Lyon to line up in their usual 4-3-3, with a midfield built to control the tempo and a front three designed to stretch defences. The predicted XI — with Greif in goal, Maitland-Niles and Clinton Mata providing width from full-back, and Kluivert, Tolisso, and Tessmann pulling the strings — suggests a team that wants to dominate possession and hit fast, vertical passes into the channels. Duranville and Boudache offer pace and directness on the wings, while Himbert leads the line. This is a side that will look to pin Toulouse back from the first whistle.

Toulouse are expected to set up in a 4-2-3-1, a shape that gives them a double pivot to screen the back four and a number ten to link midfield and attack. The problem is that this setup can become passive if the front four do not press aggressively. Against Lyon's midfield trio, sitting deep and inviting pressure is a dangerous game. Lyon's full-backs will push high, creating overloads wide, and if Toulouse's wide midfielders do not track runners, the half-spaces will open up like floodgates.

The key battle will be in the middle of the park. Lyon's three-man midfield should outnumber Toulouse's double pivot, especially if Tolisso drops deep to dictate. Toulouse will try to stay compact and hit on the break, but Lyon's centre-backs — with Ouédraogo and Clinton Mata — have the recovery pace to deal with counter-attacks. Set pieces could be Toulouse's best route to a goal, but Lyon's physicality at the back should handle most of what comes their way.