Lorient vs Nantes Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Lorient will fancy their chances of kicking on in the final few months of the campaign as they now welcome a Nantes side that are desperately struggling in the Ligue 1 table.
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
Lorient preview: Impressive Lorient
As a part of the Black Night Group, alongside the likes of AFC Bournemouth and Auckland, Lorient have been impressive off the pitch and, following their promotion to the top-flight last season, now sit tucked inside the top-half of the table.
The home team come into this one on the back of an impressive 2-0 defeat of Stade Rennais at Roazhon Park last weekend, courtesy of goals in either half scored by Jean-Victor Makengo and then Pablo Pagis.
Nantes preview: Woeful Nantes
Having been circling the drain in Ligue 1 for a while now, Nantes decided to appoint Luis Castro in the summer but the now Levante boss struggled for results in the first-half of the campaign, despite the performances being more than reasonable.
He has since been replaced in the dugout by Ahmed Kantari and, after beginning with a shock win away at Olympique de Marseille, the struggling Canaries have since suffered back-to-back losses against Paris FC and then Nice.
Lorient team news: Several injuries
There are a couple of fresh injury issues for this one as Bandiougou Fadiga is a confirmed absentee, while striker Mohamed Bamba is a doubt due to a knee issue.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Dupe; Clauss, Juma Bah, Peprah Opping, Abdi; Abdul Samed, Vanhoutte, Sanson; Diop, Wahi, Cho
Unavailable: Toure (Injured), Yongwa (Injured), Fadiga (Injured), Tosin (Injured)
Questionable: Katseris (Injured), Bamba (Injured)
Nantes team news: Tati suspended
Nantes are without Tylel Tati, who is missing through suspension, while fellow midfielder Dehmaine Tabibou is now missing through groin injury.
Predicted XI (3-2-4-1): Lopes; Radakovic, Awaziem, Mwanga; Kelvin Amian, Cozza; Abline, Sissoko, Lepenant, Cabella; Mostafa Mohamed
Unavailable: Tati (Suspended), Tabibou (Injured)
Questionable: Deiver Machado (Injured), Centonze (Injured), Coquelin (Injured), Leroux (Injured), Camara (Injured)
Lorient vs Nantes prediction
Lorient were always expected to kick on this season and they will now fancy themselves to push for the European spots. Their defeat of Rennes last week means that they are now on a ten-match unbeaten run of form across all competitions. Nantes head to Stade du Moustoir on the back of being hammered by a very poor Nice side at home and siding with Lorient would be the way to go for this one.
Lorient vs Nantes tip: Lorient to win
