Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
Cristian Cásseres scored inside the first minute but Mathis Touho equalised after the break as Toulouse and Rodez drew 1-1 in a pre-season friendly under heavy rain in Montauban.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
Toulouse needed just 54 seconds to open the scoring. A quickly-taken short corner caught Rodez's defence off guard, and Venezuelan midfielder Cristian Cásseres finished from close range to make it 1-0 inside the first minute.
Rodez took time to settle. Coach Didier Santini admitted afterwards: "We had a difficult start, we were too high and faced enormous pressing from Toulouse."
Gradually the Ligue 2 side found their footing. Damjan Pavlovic began to dictate play from central midfield, and Evan's Jean-Lambert forced a save from the Toulouse goalkeeper in the 15th minute. Jordan Mendes then struck the post in first-half stoppage time after a rapid counter-attack.
Half-time arrived with Toulouse still leading 1-0, but the balance had shifted.
The equaliser came seven minutes after the restart. Jordan Mendes won possession high up the pitch and fed Touho, Rodez's new striker, who finished calmly to make it 1-1 — his fifth goal of pre-season.
Both sides had chances to win it. Mathis Saka — a Toulouse academy product loaned to Rodez last season — was denied by Rodez goalkeeper Quentin Braat in the 60th minute. At the other end, Joshua Ndiefi latched onto a cutback from Mehdi Baaloudj in the 87th minute but could not convert.
Toulouse made three substitutions (Azizi for Dønnum, Faty for Amaaouch, Nicolaisen for Dardake). Rodez made none.
The turning point
Rodez's growing control of midfield after the 20-minute mark. Once Damjan Pavlovic established himself as the metronome, the visitors began to bypass Toulouse's press and create chances. That platform made Touho's 52nd-minute equaliser feel inevitable rather than against the run of play.
Key performers
Mathis Touho (Rodez) — Five goals in four pre-season matches since arriving at the club. His movement and finishing have made him the focal point of Rodez's attack. The equaliser was his latest example.
Cristian Cásseres (Toulouse) — Scored the fastest goal of the pre-season period for Toulouse, reading the short-corner routine perfectly. His energy in midfield drove Toulouse's early pressing.
Damjan Pavlovic (Rodez) — Santini singled him out as the "metronome" after the match. His passing range and composure helped Rodez survive Toulouse's early storm and take control of the second half.
Quentin Braat (Rodez) — Made a crucial save to deny Mathis Saka in the 60th minute, keeping the score level at a moment when Toulouse had regained momentum.
By the numbers
Toulouse's goal arrived inside the first minute of a pre-season friendly, underscoring the emphasis Askou has placed on fast starts. Rodez's five-match unbeaten run across all competitions stretches back to November 2025 — their last competitive defeat. The Ligue 2 side have now scored 12 goals in four pre-season friendlies (5-3 vs Bastia, 4-1 vs Cannes, 2-1 vs Nîmes, 1-1 vs Toulouse).
What it means
For Toulouse, this was the first pre-season outing under Jens Berthel Askou, who replaced Carles Martínez Novell in the summer. The Ligue 1 side face Hamburg at the Stadium on 1 August to close their pre-season programme, before their Ligue 1 campaign begins on 16 August.
Rodez continue their impressive pre-season form. They play Montpellier in a final friendly on 1 August, then open their Ligue 2 season at home against Laval on 8 August. Santini's side are unbeaten in pre-season and have conceded only seven goals in four matches despite facing progressively stronger opposition.
Verdict
A useful workout for both sides in appalling conditions. Toulouse's early intensity was encouraging for Askou, but the speed with which Rodez seized control of the second half will give the new coach areas to address. For Rodez, the performance confirmed they are further along in their preparation — their Ligue 2 season starts a week earlier — and Touho's form is a genuine asset.
Match Events
Toulouse and Rodez have met 8 times — Toulouse won 5, Rodez won 2, with 1 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2020. Toulouse leads the head-to-head with 5 victories from 8 meetings. A combined 23 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 2.88 per match (18 for the home side, 5 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 3 matches (38%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 4 games (50%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. Toulouse are currently unbeaten in the last 3 meetings. The highest-scoring encounter finished 6–1 in 2023.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 26 Jul 2026