Auxerre vs Nantes Preview: Team News & Prediction
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It isn't quite 'last chance saloon' for Nantes but this is pretty much a 'must win' for the Canaries as they fight with opponents Auxerre in the relegation battle.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – Ligue 1+ / US – beIN Sports Connect
Auxerre preview: Struggling Auxerre
Auxerre begin this weekend's round of fixtures sitting third-from-bottom and in the relegation playoff place. The hosts sit five points clear of the bottom two and the automatic relegation places with six games to go.
The hosts come into this one on the back of returning from the March international break with a 1-1 draw with Le Havre at Stade Oceane last week, with both goals coming inside the opening 23 minutes of the match.
Nantes preview: Relegation-bound Nantes
Nantes are the team that Auxerre sit five points ahead of in the Ligue 1 table but, under the management of Ahmed Kantari, Nantes do have a game-in-hand, too, heightening the importance of this weekend's meeting.
The visitors did blow a massive opportunity for three points against rock-bottom Metz at Stade Saint-Symphorien last week with a goalless draw whereby Tylel Tati was sent off mid-way through the first-half for Nantes.
Auxerre team news: Mensah a doubt
Versatile defender Gideon Mensah is a doubt for Auxerre this weekend, while midfield duo Nathan Buayi-Kiala and Oussama El Azzouzi confirmed injury absentees.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): De Percin; Sy, Diomande, Okoh, Siwe; Faivre, Owusu, Danois, Oppegard; Loader, Sinayoko
Unavailable: Buayi-Kiala (Injured), El Azzouzi (Injured)
Questionable: Mensah (Injured), Coulibaly (Injured)
Nantes team news: Tati suspended
Nantes midfielder Tylel Tati is unavailable for this one due to suspension, while former Newcastle United attacking midfielder Remy Cabella is also an injury doubt.
Predicted XI (4-1-4-1): Lopes; Guilbert, Awaziem, Deiver Machado, Cozza; Coquelin; Centonze, Kaba, Lepenant, Abline; Ganago
Unavailable: Tati (Suspended)
Questionable: Cabella (Injured)
Auxerre vs Nantes prediction
Nantes have been circling the drain for a while now in Ligue 1, while Auxerre are suffering from a fairly predictable case of 'second season syndrome' in France's top-flight. These two lack quality and goals in the final third. Nerves and tension are expected to takeover and dominate proceedings with a low-scoring encounter seeming fairly inevitable for this one at Stade de l'Abbe Deschamps on Saturday evening.
Auxerre vs Nantes tip: Under 2.5 goals
