Nantes vs Auxerre Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Nantes are expected to struggle this season and, despite reasonable performances, they are pointless as they welcome Auxerre across to Stade de la Beaujoire this week.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports Connect
Nantes preview: Expected to struggle
Following the sacking of Antoine Kombouare after their relegation battle last season, Luis Castro has been appointed by Nantes and, with a typically Portuguese style of football, they have been low-scoring and defensive, lacking a cutting edge.
On the opening day of the season, the Canaries suffered a 1-0 loss at home to a much changed Paris Saint-Germain side, before they then suffered a defeat by the same scoreline against another heavily rotated but strong Strasbourg side in Alsace.
Auxerre preview: Steady Auxerre
Auxerre gained promotion to Ligue 1 in the 2023/24 season and they managed to comfortably steer themselves clear of the bottom three and the relegation places, and they have started this season steadily with a win and a defeat in two matches.
Auxerre’s first game of the campaign saw them edge past Lorient by a goal to nil, but they did then suffer a 3-1 loss to Nice at the Allianz Riviera at the weekend, with goalkeeper Donovan Leon sent off for Auxerre just before half-time.
Nantes team news: Centonze a doubt
Nantes do have a fresh injury concern for this one as the versatile Fabien Centonze is now a key doubt, whilst attacker Mayckel Lahdo is also dealing with a thigh issue.
Predicted XI (4-1-4-1): Lopes; Amian, Awaziem, Tati, Cozza; Kwon; Benhattab, Leroux, Lepenant, Guirassy; Mostafa Mohamed
Unavailable:
Questionable: Centonze (Injured), Lahdo (Injured)
Auxerre team news: Leon suspended
As they make the trip to Brittany this weekend, Auxerre will be without Donovan Leon as a result of his aforementioned red card, whilst new signing Oussama El Azzouzi is an injury doubt, too.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): De Percin; Osho, Francisco Sierralta, Akpa; Senaya, Owusu, Danois, Mensah; Casimir, Sinayoko, Osman
Unavailable: Leon (Suspended), Diomande (Injured), Buayi-Kiala (Injured)
Questionable: El Azzouzi (Injured)
Nantes vs Auxerre prediction
Nantes head into this one with an awareness that they will be involved in the relegation battle this season, but they have shown some real promise in terms of their ability to hold and compete against two strong sides in PSG and Strasbourg. Auxerre head to Brittany knowing that they themselves can compete, but both sides are very reactive and the likelihood is we have a low-scoring encounter in this one.
Nantes vs Auxerre tip: Under 2.5 goals
