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Kick off: Sunday, 10 January @13:00 GMT
Venue: Stade de la Beaujoire – Louis Fonteneau (Nantes)
Live Stream: bet365 (non-US)
Head to head record
Saint-Etienne vs Nantes 2-0 (2015/2016 Ligue 1)
Nantes vs Saint-Etienne 2-0 (2015 Club Friendly)
Saint-Etienne vs Nantes 1-0 (2014/2015 Ligue 1)
Nantes vs Saint-Etienne 0-0 (2014/2015 Ligue 1)
Nantes vs Saint-Etienne 1-3 (2013/2014 Ligue 1)
Nantes vs Saint-Etienne prediction
Sunday’s game at Stade de la Beaujoire – Louis Fonteneau pits together Nantes and Saint-Etienne. With only five points separating the two teams in the Ligue 1 standings, there is every chance we will see a close encounter in Nantes on Matchday 20.
Les Canaris enjoy sharing the spoils with their rivals
The 2015/2016 Ligue 1 campaign has been a mixed bag for Nantes so far. Les Canaris occupy 13th place in the standings ahead of Sunday’s game against Saint-Etienne and it has to be noted that they recorded their last league win back in 4 November. Michel Der Zakarian’s team played out a goalless draw with Lorient in their last league game and that was the team’s fifth consecutive draw in the national championship. Nantes are desperate to return to winning ways, but Sunday’s match against top-table side Saint-Etienne will be anything but a walk in the park for the hosts. Les Canaris have been struggling in front of goal of late, but they look strong defensively and, no doubt, Michel Der Zakarian’s men will rely on their rock-solid defence in their first league game of the new year. Nantes head into the match following a Coupe de France win over Blanc Mesnil (2-0) and their fresh confidence will be tested against Saint-Etienne.
Valentin Rongier, Alexis Alegue and Emiliano Sala remain in the recovery room, but Wilfried Moimbe should recover in time to face Saint-Etienne. Ermir Lenjani is facing the race against clock to be fit for the game.
Les Verts struggling in front of goal
Saint-Etienne did defeat Angers (1-0) in their last league game, but the team once again struggled in front of goal. Les Verts have netted no more than two goals in previous four matches in Ligue 1 and it is no surprise they sit in sixth place in the standings ahead of the trip to Nantes. Sunday’s clash against les Canaris is of big importance for the visitors as they are eager to rejoin the race for a place in the Champions League. Christophe Galtier’s men badly need to put an end to their five-match losing run on the road and it has to be noted that a victory over Nantes could see the visitors climb to third place in the table. Saint-Etienne, though, head into the game with a severely-weakened squad, meaning that they would not be too disappointed should they happen to share the spoils with les Canaris.
The likes of Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Loic Perrin, Francois Clerc, Benjamin Karamoko and Robert Beric are all sidelined with injury. New signing Alexander Soderlund could make his Saint-Etienne debut on Sunday.
Quick Facts
- Nantes have kept three clean sheets in previous five home games
- Under 2.5 goals were scored in previous four Nantes’ matches
- Les Canaris recorded their last league win over Saint-Etienne back in 2008
- Saint Etienne are after their sixth consecutive win over Nantes in Ligue 1
- Les Verts are on a five-match losing run on the road
- Christophe Galtier’s team failed to score in last three away games
Nantes vs Saint-Etienne betting tip
Nantes have been firing blanks in recent matches and given Saint-Etienne’s poor away record, everything suggests we will see a low-scoring affair at Stade de la Beaujoire – Louis Fonteneau. Three goals in total were scored in previous three meetings between the two teams in Ligue 1 and that is yet another reason why I am tempted to put my money on under 2.5 goals. When the two sides met at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard earlier this season Saint-Etienne recorded a 2-0 win over Nantes.
Tip: Under 2.5 goals
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