Nantes vs Auxerre Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 French Ligue 1
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After a couple of seasons of circling the drain, Nantes started the season with a goalless draw against Toulouse on the opening day. They now face newly-promoted Auxerre, who started with a shock but impressive defeat of Nice last weekend.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday 25th August, 2024 - UK – 4:00pm / US ET – 11:00am / US PT – 8:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TBC / US – beIN Sports or beIN Sports de Espanol
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – TBC / US – Fubo or Fanatiz
NANTES PREVIEW: TOUGH SEASON AHEAD
Last season, Nantes sacked both Pierre Aristouy and then Jocelyn Gourvennac before former manager Antoine Kombouare returned to steer them clear of the bottom three and the danger zone. Kombouare remains in charge of the club but they are once again one of the favourites to be involved in a relegation battle.
The home team went to Stadium de Toulouse last weekend and shared a goalless draw with Toulouse on the opening day of the season. They were the weaker of the two sides in that game with Toulouse dominating possession and them also having six shots on target in comparison to Nantes’ two.
AUXERRE PREVIEW: AUXERRE ON THE UP
Under the management of Christophe Pelissier, Auxerre finished as Ligue 2 runners’ up last season and they managed to begin their campaign extremely well with a surprise 2-1 defeat of an ambitious Nice side at Stade de l’Abbe-Deschamps on the opening day of the season last weekend.
Mohamed-Ali Cho actually gave Nice the lead after 21 minutes in that game but then Rayan Raveloson managed to equalise for Auxerre just before half-time. Then, deep into second-half stoppage-time, Auxerre managed to steal all three points with a strike from new signing Lasso Coulibaly.
NANTES TEAM NEWS: LACK OF ATTACK
Despite the signing of Wales international Sorba Thomas on loan from Huddersfield Town, Nantes are lacking in attacking areas and that isn’t helped by the injury to Ignatius Ganago.
As well as Ganago, though, Nantes are also suffering with defensive injuries at the start of this season with both Florent Mollet and Fabien Centonze unavailable for the hosts.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Lafont; Coco, Castelletto, Zeze, Amian; Pedro Chirivella, Douglas Augusto; Thomas, Kadewere, Simon; Abline
UNAVAILABLE: Mollet (Injured), Centonze (Injured), Mahamoud (Injured), Ganago (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
AUXERRE TEAM NEWS: DEALING WITH ISSUES
Right on the eve of the season, Auxerre were denied the use of their defender Gideon Mensah due an unknown injury and he remains unavailable alongside a few other key players.
As well as Mensah, Auxerre are currently without Ousmane Camara, whilst both Ange Loic N’Gatta and Clement Akpa are also sidelined this weekend for the visitors.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Leon; Joly, Jubal, Osho, Pellenard; Perrin, Raveloson, Owusu, Sinayoko; Bair, Onaiwu
UNAVAILABLE: Mensah (Injured), Camara (Injured), Akpa (Injured), N’Gatta (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
NANTES VS AUXERRE PREDICTION
Nantes are expected to be one of the more tedious teams to watch in Ligue 1 this season with the whole plan appearing to always be to hire managers that play a defensive and reactive style of football. Auxerre are not and were not in Ligue 2 last season a team that played expansively but they will take great heart from the fact they can mix it in the top-flight. Another competitive but probably lacking quality encounter is to be expected.
NANTES VS AUXERRE TIP: UNDER 2.5 GOALS
