On Thursday afternoon, Nantes and Toulouse clash at the Stade de la Beaujoire as both teams look to kick off their Ligue One campaign with a victory.
The home team heads into this clash after a poor pre-season campaign, which included suffering three defeats in their five matches. Nantes have also suffered back-to-back losses against Lorient and Koln.
One of the biggest concerns of the summer has been conceding too many goals, as they have conceded at least two goals in all four pre-season games.
Nantes diced with relegation last season, as they finished just a point above the drop zone in the French top flight.
One of Nantes' main concerns last season was their home form in the French top flight, as they won just once in their previous eight league games on home soil.
However, they ended a seven-game winless run on home soil in Ligue One by winning 1-0 against Angers on the final day to escape relegation.
The visitors finished 13th place in the French top-flight table last season, 13 points clear of the relegation zone.
They will hope for an improvement on their 13th place this season in Ligue One.
Les Violets have enjoyed mixed fortunes in pre-season, as they failed to win their opening three games this summer, but head into this game on the back of two straight victories over Osasuna and Roma.
The visitors ended last season with a five-game unbeaten run in the French top flight, too, although four of the games ended in draws.
Toulouse also ended their league campaign with a five-match unbeaten run on their travels.
Un baptême du feu spectaculaire dans les cages toulousaines pour notre pitchoun @guillaume_rts40 🧤👊 pic.twitter.com/t4rwDD5DbS— Toulouse FC (@ToulouseFC) August 7, 2023
Un baptême du feu spectaculaire dans les cages toulousaines pour notre pitchoun @guillaume_rts40 🧤👊 pic.twitter.com/t4rwDD5DbS
Forebet predicts that Nantes will kick off the new Ligue One campaign with a victory in a low-scoring encounter.