Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Sitting tenth and ninth in the Ligue 1 table ahead of this weekend’s round of fixtures, we have an intriguing clash at Stade de la Beaujoire as Nantes take on Nice in this one.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday 20th October, 2024 - UK – 4:00pm / US ET – 11:00am / US PT – 8:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports
NANTES PREVIEW: FADING NANTES
Last season, Nantes needed three managers to eventually push themselves clear of the bottom three and the relegation places with the return of Antoine Kombouare eventually seeing them move themselves into the middle-of-the-table.
The home team have started this season very well but a fallout between Kombouare and a couple of senior players has been accompanied by a major dip in form as they drift down the Ligue 1 table.
NICE PREVIEW: FRUSTRATING NICE
The INEOS-owned Nice begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting firmly in the middle-of-the-table despite signs of real quality and improvement over the season, such as their 8-0 demolition of Saint-Etienne at the Allianz Riviera last month.
Over the summer, they appointed Franck Haise, who had been performing very well in charge of Lens in recent seasons. The southerners most recently shares a 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain a couple of weeks ago.
NANTES TEAM NEWS: MAKING AMENDS
Jean-Charles Castelletto and Douglas Augusto were both internally suspended due to an argument with Kombouare but the former has since made amends with the manager.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Lafont; Amian, Pallois, Zeze, Cozza; Gbamin, Pedro Chirivella; Thomas, Ganago, Simon; Abline
UNAVAILABLE: Centonze (Injured), Guirassy (Injured), Douglas Augusto (Disciplinary), Coco (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE: Duverne (Injured), Kadewere (Injured)
NICE TEAM NEWS: DANTE SUSPENDED
Dante is missing through suspension for this weekend, whilst the likes of Melvin Bard, Morgan Sanson and former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Tanguy Ndombele are out injured.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Bulka; Bombito, Ndayishimiye, Rosario; Clauss, Boudaoui, Bouanani, Abdi; Guessand, Boga; Cho
UNAVAILABLE: Dante (Suspended), Bard (Injured), Sanson (Injured), Ndombele (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Laborde (Injured)
NANTES VS NICE PREDICTION
Nantes have got a few issues in terms of infighting and they have also underperformed on the pitch so the hosts’ current position of tenth ahead of this weekend may well actually be quite flattering to them. They now face a Nice side that will eventually get it right and are continuing to move in the right direction so backing a Nice victory for this one would appear like quite a good value bet.
NANTES VS NICE TIP: NICE TO WIN