Nantes vs Saint-Etienne Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 French Ligue 1
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It has been an impressive start to the season for Nantes with just one defeat in their opening five matches at the start of the 2024/25 Ligue 1 season as they now face struggling, newly-promoted opposition in Saint-Etienne.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday 29th September, 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: NUISANCE OF NANTES
After needing three managers to eventually steer themselves away from the relegation zone last year, Nantes have been much-improved. Antoine Kombouare followed on from the sackings of both Pierre Aristouy and Jocelyn Gourvennac and are now looking like they could be comfortably in mid-table at least throughout the season.
Nantes come into this one on the back of a couple of disappointing and underwhelming performances and results since the September international break. They returned from the break with a 2-1 defeat at home to Stade de Reims before then being held to a 1-1 draw with rock-bottom Angers last weekend.
SAINT-ETIENNE PREVIEW: SORRY SAINT-ETIENNE
It was a really sorry performance and night for Saint-Etienne last weekend just after things had begun to seemingly turnaround. They suffered an 8-0 hammering at the hands of Nice at the Allianz Riviera with all of Saint-Etienne’s travelling supporters leaving with 20 minutes to go at 6-0 before Nice added a couple more.
They began the season with three successive defeats and did look as though they may struggle quite badly this year under the management of former Montpellier boss Olivier Dall’Oglio. They did, though, pull off a surprise victory over Lille when they returned from the aforementioned September international break.
NANTES TEAM NEWS: POTENTIAL CHANGES
Nantes may well make changes this week after a couple of average performances of late but Antoine Kombouare is still dealing with some key absentees.
For example, defensive duo Florent Mollet and Fabien Centonze both remain unavailable for the hosts, sidelined alongside both Adel Mahamoud and Bahereba Guirassy.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Lafont; Amian, Castelletto, Pallois, Duverne; Douglas Augusto, Pedro Chirivella; Kadewere, Lepenant, Simon; Abline
UNAVAILABLE: Mollet (Injured), Centonze (Injured), Mahamoud (Injured), Guirassy (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
SAINT-ETIENNE TEAM NEWS: SEVERAL ABSENTEES
After what has been a tough start to life back in France’s top-flight, Saint-Etienne are dealing with several key absentees this weekend as they prepare to face Nantes.
For example, Augustine Boakye is sidelined for ASSE alongside the likes of Yvann Macon, Thomas Monconduit, Anthony Briancon and Mahmoud Bentayg.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Larsonneur; Appiah, Batubinsika, Abdelhamid, Cornud; Moueffek, Ekwah, Amougou; Davitashvili, Stassin, Cafaro
UNAVAILABLE: Macon (Injured), Bentayg (Injured), Boakye (Injured), Wadji (Injured), Briancon (Injured), Monconduit (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
NANTES VS SAINT-ETIENNE PREDICTION
Nantes, even when they have been good at times this season, have not been overly entertaining to watch or free scoring in attack with just seven goals scored in their five matches. They take on a Saint-Etienne side that have shown they can be stubborn against better teams in the league but their performance last week is a major concern and Nantes, especially at Stade de la Beaujoire, should come out on top.
NANTES VS SAINT-ETIENNE TIP: NANTES TO WIN
