Two teams with contrasting objectives in Ligue 1 will come together on Sunday afternoon as relegation-threatened Nantes host Europe-chasing Lens at the Stade de la Beaujoire.
The hosts are 15th in the standings with 21 points from 22 matches, while the visitors are eighth in the league table with 33 points from 22 games played.
Match preview
© Imago
Since securing a ninth-placed finish in 2021-22, Nantes have flirted with relegation from Ligue 1 in the following years, placing 16th in 2022-23 and 14th in 2023-24.
The Canaries find themselves battling against the drop once again this term, currently placed 15th in the standings with 21 points after 22 matches, from four wins, nine draws and nine defeats.
That leaves Nantes only three points above 16th-placed Saint-Etienne in the relegation playoff spot, while they hold a four point advantage over 17th-placed Le Havre.
Antoine Kombouare, in charge since March 2024, guided the side to an improved run of two wins, five draws and just one defeat in Ligue 1 between November and January, lifting them out of the relegation zone.
However, they have returned to the form from their earlier season struggles in the last two outings, losing 2-0 to Brest before suffering a humiliating 7-1 loss to Monaco.
Kombouare will be hoping to see a good response from his side to that heavy defeat, but another difficult matchup awaits them with Europe-chasing Lens travelling to the STADIUM.
Lens secured their return to the top flight for the first time since their 2014-15 relegation by finishing second in Ligue 2 during the 2019-20 season, and they have impressed back in the top division ever since.
The Blood and Gold have finished seventh in three of the four seasons since their return to Ligue 1, in 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2023-24, with an anomalous second-placed finish in 2022-23, when they narrowly missed out on the title by one point.
Lens are once again aiming for a seventh-placed finish or higher in Ligue 1 this season as they search for a place in next season's European competitions, and they are certainly in the fight.
Will Still's side are eighth in the table after 22 matches with 33 points, from nine wins, six draws and seven losses, leaving them just three points behind sixth-placed Lyon.
They have, however, lost each of their last two fixtures coming into this one, defeated 2-0 by both Nice and Strasbourg, leaving Still eager to see his side rebound with a victory.
Team News
© Imago
Nantes will be without the services of Francis Coquelin (muscle), Nathan Zeze (ankle) and Tino Kadewere (muscle) for this match due to ongoing injury issues.
Pedro Chirivella is suspended for the Canaries due to accumulating 10 yellow cards in the league, while Nicolas Cozza is also ruled out after receiving a red card in the 7-1 loss to Monaco.
As for Lens, Denis Petric (back), Jhoanner Chavez (ankle), Martin Satriano (cruciate ligament), Matthew Ryan (hip) and Remy Lascary are all out due to injury.
Deiver Machado and Hamzat Ojediran are both suspended for this match, but Facundo Medina could return from his suspension to partner Malang Sarr in central defence.
Nantes possible starting lineup:
Lopes; Coco, Sow, Pallois, Amian; Augusto, Lepenant, Leroux; Abline, Simon; Mohamed
Lens possible starting lineup:
Koffi; Gradit, Medina, Sarr, Aguilar; Diouf, Aynaoui; Sotoca, Thomasson, Fulgini; Nzola
We say: Nantes 1-2 Lens
Both sides will be desperate for the victory to end their current losing runs, but with Lens boasting the superior squad and better form throughout the season, we believe the visitors will secure a narrow win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
