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

Nantes welcome Lyon to the Stade de la Beaujoire on Friday for the opening game of the fourth round of matches in the new Ligue 1 season.

The hosts have produced a mixed start to their campaign, whilst Lyon are struggling down in 16th, just outside the relegation zone, and will be looking to kickstart their season at the fourth attempt.

Match preview

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In their opening three games, Nantes have won one, drawn one and lost one.

A promising start, with a strong opening-day performance in a draw away at Monaco and a comfortable 2-0 win at home to Metz, unravelled somewhat with a disappointing outing at Rennes.

Les Rennais drew their opening two games, but a Europa Conference League win over Rosenborg had given them a confidence boost and they started the game strongly.

Both sides spurned chances in the first half and, ultimately, a Martin Terrier goal on 58 minutes would be enough to earn the home side the three points, as the game fizzled out in the dying stages, despite Antoine Kombouare's raft of substitutions.

Nonetheless, Nantes will be reasonably content with their start to the campaign, having narrowly staved off relegation via the playoffs last season, and will fancy their chances at home against a Lyon team who have not won in their last six games.

They will have to work on their passing, however, as they are currently the team with the fewest successful passes and the lowest passing accuracy in Ligue 1 this season.

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Life under new manager Peter Bosz has not started smoothly for Lyon, going winless in their opening three league games for the first time since the 2000-01 season.

Their main issue appears to be at the back. They have conceded seven goals in three games - the joint-second highest in the division - with three of those goals coming in the previous game at home to newly-promoted Clermont.

Admittedly, les Lanciers have enjoyed an admirable start to their time in Ligue 1 and sit third in the table, but a team with the credentials and expectations of Lyon must be expecting to dispatch a promoted side on home turf.

Things started well enough, as Bosz's side produced the kind of attacking football he is renowned for - Moussa Dembele scoring twice early on and Lucas Paqueta adding a third to make it 3-1 at half time - but Clermont rallied late on and a brace from Elbasan Rashani spoiled the hosts' day, with the equaliser coming in the 91st minute.

Letting a two-goal lead slip in the final 10 minutes will be a hit to team morale and will add to the early pressure under which Bosz already finds himself, but the Dutchman can take solace in the fact that Dembele has rediscovered his shooting boots, after almost nine months without a goal, and that they have beaten Nantes in each of their previous three meetings.

Team News

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New Nantes signing Wylan Cyprien is expected to remain on the sidelines as he battles a muscular issue and Friday's game will also likely come too early for their three other injured players.

Striker Kalifa Coulibaly is yet to recover from his thigh injury, Randal Kolo Muani is out with a calf issue and Anthony Limbombe has a hamstring problem.

That leaves Nantes a little light at the attacking end of the pitch, but Kombouare will hope that Moses Simon can turn his recent assists into goals of his own in their absence, with Renaud Emond likely moving forward to lead the line.

Lyon will have left-back Maxwel Cornet and striker Islam Slimani back after having served their suspensions in the game against Clermont, but Cornet may not return immediately to the side after the loan signing of Emerson from Chelsea.

Fellow new arrival Damien Da Silva should retain his place in the rearguard of a 4-2-3-1 setup, whilst there is uncertainty over Houssem Aouar's participation amid continued links with a move to the Premier League.

Nantes possible starting lineup:
Lafont; Corchia, Castelletto, Pallois, Traore; Girotto, Chirivella; Blas, Coco, Simon; Emond

Lyon possible starting lineup:
Lopes; Dubois, Denayer, Da Silva, Emerson; Caqueret, Guimaraes; Paqueta, Toko Ekambi, Aouar; Dembele

We say: Nantes 1-1 Lyon

Nantes continue with their habit of producing much better displays at home than on their travels and they should be capable of matching a Lyon side that is likely low on confidence.