On Saturday afternoon, Nantes host Monaco in Ligue One, as both sides look to kick-off their league campaigns with a victory.
Nantes finished ninth-place in the French top-flight table last season, only three points shy of the European spots. A poor run of just two wins from their last nine Ligue 1 games last season saw the home side miss out on a top six place.
Nantes did win their last two league games of the season, but it was too little too late, as a seven-game winless run previously was fatal to their hopes of landing a European berth for this season.
The home sides form on home soil in Ligue One was also a contributing factor in their failure to land a top-six spot in the French top-flight, as they won just two of their last ten games on home soil.
Monaco finished as runners-up to PSG in Ligue 1 last season. This season the team from the principality will be hoping to challenge the big-spending Parisians for the title.
Leonardo Jardim’s team finished the season with a four-game unbeaten run in Ligue One, recording victories in their last three league outings. Monaco have also been difficult to beat in the French top-flight, as they have lost just twice in their last 20 Ligue One matches.
The visitors have an inconsistent recent record on their travels in the French top-flight, although they have lost just two of their previous 11 away games in the league.
Monaco’s latest away games in Ligue 1 have been high-scoring with over 2.5 goals scored in eight of their last nine away games in the French top-flight, including their last four outings.
Forebet predicts that Monaco will record a victory in a low scoring game to kick-off their league campaign in a positive manner.