Toulouse are starting fresh. A new managerial era begins at the Stadium de Toulouse, and that always brings a spark of unpredictability. But look closer: they finished ninth last season with 45 points, and their recent outing was a 0-0 snoozefest at Nantes, where they had 41% possession and managed a single shot on target. That is not a team oozing confidence. That is a side still finding its identity, still learning new ideas, still likely to be cautious in the opening weekend. New managers often park the bus early, especially against a heavyweight. Expect a low block, a compact 4-2-3-1, and a hope that the home crowd at Stadium Municipal can drag them through.

Lyon, by contrast, are already battle-hardened. They come into this off the back of a Champions League qualifier against Sparta Prague, where Lois Openda — the new loan signing from Juventus — is already making noise. They have competitive minutes in their legs, a settled spine, and a point to prove after that heavy 4-0 home defeat to Lens at Parc Olympique Lyonnais in their recent league outing. That result stung. It will have sharpened their focus. Fourth place last season with 60 points tells you the quality is there. This is a team that smells blood against a transitional Toulouse side.