St Etienne are looking to battle not just Toulouse but the freezing temperatures in the Stade Municipal on Sunday evening.
Temperatures in Toulouse are not expected to rise above freezing for this evening's match with St Etienne and there have been calls for the FFF to cancel the game. ASSE defender Sylvain Marchal has, however, claimed that he won't be fazed by the cold weather.
"When I was playing for Metz, I also experienced some very cold winters,'' he said
"They tinkered with training and alternated it between indoor and outdoor sessions.
"You have to adapt but it's true that right now it's particularly cold. Temperatures as low as this are still pretty rare.
"We just hope that these conditions will not last forever.
"In times like these where there are exceptional circumstances, the danger could be to relax.
"We must stay focused and not lose sight of the goal of the week: preparing for Sunday's game against Toulouse.
"This is a match with a direct competitor because Toulouse sail the same waters as us. This was also the case against Rennes and Lorient. These are games we must negotiate well.
"This is a team that has great potential. In recent years it has enhanced its youth. This team has a lot of physical impact and power.''
It is 3/1 at
bet365 that St Etienne beat Toulouse this evening or 11/10 that the home side win the match but the weather conditions make it difficult to predict who will win the game. It is 2/1 that the match is drawn and that is arguably the best option for punters, especially as neither side has been particularly convincing of late and would probably settle for a point.
