Nantes vs Montpellier Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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Nantes head into the final day of the campaign still in danger of relegation down to Ligue 1 as they now take on already relegated Montpellier Herault at Stade de la Beaujoire in Brittany.
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
Nantes preview: Trying to push away
Nantes come into this one on the back of a 1-1 draw with Auxerre in their most recent outing at Stade de l’Abbe Deschamps with Gaetan Perrin opening the scoring just before the break for Auxerre before Louis Leroux equalised for the Canaries mid-way through the second-half.
That result means that Nantes are now winless in their last five matches to mean that they begin the final round of 2024/25 Ligue 1 fixtures sitting just a place and two points outside of the bottom three and the danger zone above Le Havre, who travel to Strasbourg.
Montpellier preview: Relegated Montpellier
Montpellier began the season under the management of Armenian coach Michel Der Zakarian with the expectation being they would battle against the drop and, despite the appointment of boyhood supporter Jean-Louis Gasset in October, that expectation was fulfilled.
They have been woeful throughout the campaign and the 2011/12 French champions will be in the second-tier last season. They suffered a 4-1 loss to champions Paris Saint-Germain at the Stade de la Mosson last weekend to mean they have collected just a point from their last 14.
Nantes team news: Doucoure a doubt
Nantes have a key defensive injury issue as Sekou Doucoure is a doubt due to a shoulder injury for this one. They also have a couple of confirmed absentees, too, such as Saidou Sow and Adel Mahamoud.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Lopes; Castelletto, Zeze, Pallois; Thomas, Coquelin, Pedro Chirivella, Douglas Augusto, Centonze; Abline, Simon
Unavailable: Sow (Injured), Mahamoud (Injured)
Questionable: Doucoure (Injured)
Montpellier team news: Loads of issues
With Montpellier’s relegation confirmed, half of the squad have taken the rest of the season off with minor injuries. They do have a couple of suspension issues, too, as midfield duo Khalil Fayad and Rabby Nzingoula are both sidelined for the visitors.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Lecomte; Mouanga, Omeragic, Mincarelli; Tchato, Chotard, Ferri, Sacko; Coulibaly, Ndiaye, Khazri
Unavailable: Jullien (Injured), Maksimovic (Injured), Maamma (Injured), Sagnan (Injured), Fayad (Suspended), Nzingoula (Suspended), Gueguin (Injured), Issoufou (Injured), Sylla (Injured), Pays (Injured)
Questionable: Sainte-Luce (Injured), Delort (Injured)
Nantes vs Montpellier prediction
Nantes started the season well with two victories in their opening four matches but they have managed just five victories in their last 29. They do have a far superior goal difference to Le Havre so a draw will be enough for them to avoid the relegation playoff place. Montpellier have nothing to play for and don’t appear too keen on salvaging any pride out of the season so a fairly comfortable Nantes victory is to be expected at Stade de la Beaujoire.
Nantes vs Montpellier tip: Nantes to win
