Rodez held Toulouse to a 1-1 draw in their opening pre-season friendly on Saturday in Montauban, as the Violets began life under new boss Jens Berthel Askou. The hosts struck first through Cristian Casseres before Mathis Touho equalised for Rodez, capping a logical result for both sides.
How did Toulouse fare under their new manager?
Toulouse showed two faces in the first half, attacking and controlled despite heavy rain that disrupted their build-up play. Casseres opened the scoring in the 6th minute from a quickly taken corner, fitting Askou’s desired style. The picture changed after the break. Less lively and precise, the Violets came under pressure from Rodez and were pegged back in the 50th minute when Touho pounced on a misplaced clearance from Dayann Methalie.
Askou fielded his established names (Restes, Casseres, Cresswell, Dönnum, Gboho) alongside new arrivals Ismaïl Diallo and Christ Tapé. Substitutes Mathis Saka (57th) and Aymen Amaaouch (87th) saw gametime, yet neither could change the scoreline. Toulouse must wait until Friday at 19:00 for their first pre-season win, facing Real Sociedad.
Rodez’s strong pre-season showing against a Ligue 2 rival
For Rodez, this draw against a direct rival proved encouraging. The Aveyronnais, fifth in last season’s table with 58 points and a positive goal difference (+6), matched Toulouse step for step. Their physical resilience and defensive solidity after the interval stood out, even if their finishing remains an area to refine.
Rodez head into the new campaign aiming to consolidate their place among the promotion hopefuls. Nine points behind leaders ESTAC Troyes, the club will rely on cohesion and experience to push for the top spots.
Key takeaways from the clash for both sides
For Toulouse, the main point was validating Askou’s early tenure. Despite a promising start, the Violets showed clear limitations after half-time, especially in defence. With the transfer window still sluggish, final squad details remain uncertain. For Rodez, the match confirmed the team’s structure under Laurent Peyrelade, with an organised backline and quick transitions.
Both clubs still have time to fine-tune their rosters ahead of the official curtain-raiser. Toulouse, 11th in the final 2025 standings with recent form WWDWW, and Rodez, fifth with 58 points, know every detail will matter this season.
Rodez’s next outing comes on 12 February 2027 at home to Guingamp.
