Nantes will be bidding to avoid finishing in a relegation playoff spot in the Ligue 1 table when they conclude their 2024-25 campaign with a clash against already-relegated Montpellier HSC on Saturday night.
The home side are currently 15th, two points clear of 16th-placed Le Havre, while Montpellier are rooted to the bottom of the division, with a poor campaign only seeing them pick up 16 points from 33 matches.
Match preview
![Antoine Kombouare, coach of FC Nantes during his side's match against Montpellier on April 26, 2024 [on August 9, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/32/antoine-kombouare.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Antoine Kombouare, coach of FC Nantes during his side's match against Montpellier on April 26, 2024 [on August 9, 2024]")
© Imago
Nantes are on a five-game winless run in France's top flight, with their last success coming away to Nice on April 4, but they have shared the points in three of their last four, including a 1-1 with Auxerre last time out.
La Maison Jaune cannot be automatically relegated on the final matchday, but it is still possible for them to finish 16th, which would leave them needing a relegation playoff in order to remain in the top flight.
Antoine Kombouare's side are 15th in the table, only two points ahead of 16th-placed Le Havre, so a defeat on Saturday would leave them extremely vulnerable.
Nantes, as mentioned, drew 1-1 with Auxerre last time out, but they were beaten 1-0 by Angers in their last match in front of their own fans on April 5, which proved to be a sixth home defeat of the campaign.
Les Canaris are bidding to do a league double over Montpellier this season, having recorded a 3-1 victory when the two teams locked horns for the reverse match back in August 2024.
© Iconsport
Montpellier, meanwhile, were relegated to Ligue 2 at the end of April, with their 16-year stay in the top flight over.
There is no getting away from the fact that it has been an incredibly difficult campaign for the 2011-12 Ligue 1 champions, who have a record of four wins, four draws and 25 defeats from their 33 matches to collect 16 points.
Zoumana Camara's side will enter this match off the back of a 4-1 home defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, and they have now been beaten in 13 of their last 14 matches at this level, showing the extent of their troubles.
Montpellier were last victorious at the end of January, and they have conceded goals at an alarming rate this season, shipping 76 in their 33 matches, which is the worst defensive record in the division.
The relegated outfit also have the worst away record in France's top flight this season, losing 15 of their 16 league games on their travels, picking up just three victories in the process.
Team News
© Imago
Nantes will again be without the services of Meschack Elia, Sekou Doucoure and Saidou Sow due to injury problems, but Nicolas Cozza will be back in the squad after serving a suspension last time out.
Cozza is set to return to the XI, but Nantes may otherwise be unchanged from the team that picked up a welcome point against Auxerre.
Matthis Abline and Moses Simon have scored 15 times between them in top flight during the 2024-25 campaign, and the pair should continue in the final third of the field this weekend.
As for Montpellier, Theo Sainte-Luce, Issiaga Sylla, Christopher Jullien, Modibo Sagnan, Andy Delort, Nikola Maksimovic and Axel Gueguin may all be unavailable for selection against Nantes.
Tanguy Coulibaly has been a standout player in a difficult season for the club, scoring three times in France's top flight, and there will again be a position in the starting side for the 24-year-old.
Meanwhile, there should also be a spot in the final third of the field for Khalil Fayad.
Nantes possible starting lineup:
Lopes; Thomas, Castelletto, Zeze, Pallois, Cozza; Coquelin, Chirivella, Augusto; Abline, Simon
Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:
Lecomte; Tchato, Mouanga, Omeragic, Mincarelli, Chennahi; Nzingoula, Chotard, Ferri; Coulibaly, Fayad
We say: Nantes 1-0 Montpellier HSC
Nantes are under pressure to pick up a positive result to confirm their status in Ligue 1 for next season, and we are backing the home side to navigate their way to an important three points on Saturday night.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
