Preview: Angers vs. Nantes - prediction, team news, lineups

Angers host Nantes in Ligue 1 on Sunday, with the visitors looking for a victory as they attempt to move out of the relegation zone.

The home side, meanwhile, can move as high as sixth in the table by securing a win.

Match preview

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Despite performing above expectations so far this season, Angers were humbled 3-0 at Nice last weekend.

There was an element of fortune about the manner of Nice's victory, though, with Adrian Ursea's side only having two shots on target across the 90 minutes. Indeed, Angers got off to a terrible start with Souleyman Doumbia scoring past his own goalkeeper, before strikes from Myziane Maolida and Amine Gouiri wrapped up a comfortable victory.

Stephane Moulin and his players should have more than enough credit in the bank to write off the defeat and move into a home match against relegation threatened Nantes with confidence of gaining a victory.

With top goalscorer Stephane Bahoken likely to play some part having recovered from his muscle injury, their chances of doing so may receive a huge boost.

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Nantes have failed to win since beating Lorient 2-0 in early November, leading to Raymond Domenech's dismissal earlier this week.

The former France manager has been replaced by Antoine Kombouare, whose last spell as a manager was a brief one at Toulouse ending in January 2020.

On current form, the 57-year-old has a gigantic task ahead of him to keep Nantes in Ligue 1, with last weekend's 2-0 loss at home to Lille seeing them sit three points behind Lorient and safety having played a game more.

However, the fact that Nantes have lost two fewer games than the likes of Strasbourg, Lorient and Dijon around them shows that they are at least harder to beat than their relegation rivals, with Kombouare tasked with turning draws into victories in order to survive. There is enough quality in the squad to do so.

Angers Ligue 1 form: LLLWDL
Angers form (all competitions): LLWDLW

Nantes Ligue 1 form: DDLLDL
Nantes form (all competitions): DLLDLL

Team News

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Bahoken is set to return to first-team action after recovering from his muscle injury, but may have to settle for a place on the bench until he is fully up to speed.

Rachid Alioui is likely to miss out through illness, with Enzo Ebosse ruled out for the season with a knee injury.

Jean-Kevin Augustin has returned to training for Nantes after recovering from a thigh injury, but like Bahoken may be eased into things by his new manager.

Kombouare is unlikely to have Kalifa Coulibaly available to select until the end of February due to a muscular complaint.

Angers possible starting lineup:
Bernardoni; Manceau, Traore, Thomas, Doumbia; Amadou, Mangani; Cabot, Fulgini, Boufal; Diony

Nantes possible starting lineup:
Lafont; Fabio, Castelletto, Girotto, Traore; Corchia, Blas, Chirivella, Louza, Simon; Kolo

We say: Angers 1-1 Nantes

Angers have actually been struggling of late, so we can envisage Kombouare having an instant impact by gaining a positive result.

The 57-year-old may have to wait for his first victory, though, with belief at Nantes pretty low for the time being.