Stade Toulousain makes no secret of it. Hanging a sixth European star on the red-and-black jersey is a goal this season. The road that leads to this ambition begins this Sunday with the reception of Racing 92 in the round of 16 of the Champions Cup. An elimination match which will be played at the… Ernest-Wallon stadium.
Initially planned at the Stadium, the largest venue in the Pink City which can accommodate more than 33,000 people, this shock will ultimately not be relocated. The reason ? The Ligue 1 football program since the Toulouse Football Club hosts Strasbourg this same weekend.
The Toulouse residents, struggling slightly in the Top 14 (a sluggish and close victory against the Section Paloise – 31-29 – last Saturday after two away defeats), will have to be wary of an Ile-de-France team in full recovery. The Racingmen, after a dark series of five defeats in the championship (the first, on January 28, in their Arena where Toulouse won 27 to 20…), have just won their last three meetings.
The last success, against Clermont, was however costly with the concussion of Nolann Le Garrec, who will be absent on Sunday, and the injury of Antoine Gibert. Tuesday, the Altosequan club was still waiting to make a decision concerning it. It is therefore without their hinge that Stuart Lancaster’s men will approach this round of 16 in Toulouse.
Toulouse-Racing 92, a Top 14 shock to follow on Sunday at 4 p.m. live with commentary on the Figaro website as well as on television on France 2 and beIN Sports.