Nantes will be hoping they can avoid a third league defeat on the trot in Ligue 1 on Sunday evening when they play host to Lyon at their Stade de la Beaujoire in order that the hosts can claw their way out of the relegation zone.
Recent back-to-back defeats in the French top flight against Nice and Rennes have left the hosts sitting second from bottom and four points adrift of fourth from bottom outfit, Lorient, and safety but this upcoming clash with Lyon is expected to be an extremely tough one for the hosts.
It’s been a disappointing campaign for Nantes who have managed to register just two wins out of their last 23 matches which is a very poor record indeed although 11 draws within this sequence have at least seen Nantes pick up vital points along the way.
Following a bright start to the season at home where Nantes won two of their opening three matches, the hosts have since slumped to an alarming 13 matches without a win in Ligue 1 at their Stade de la Beaujoire, but at least there’s no fresh injury worries for manager, Raymond Domenech.
Lyon will be eyeing off all three points on Sunday night as they prepare for their trip to face relegation-haunted Nantes with the visitors in confident mood following just two defeats out of their last 12 matches overall in Ligue 1.
Interestingly, both of these losses were incurred on home turf at their Groupama Stadium as they slipped to defeats against Montpellier and PSG but within this 12-match sequence, Lyon have also recorded seven wins as well.
Lyon had earlier made a slow start to this season’s Ligue 1 campaign on the road as the visitors had failed to win any of their opening three matches away from home but they’ve since turned their fortunes around, putting together a 14-match unbeaten run on their travels.
Eight wins during this sequence has helped Lyon into 4th place on the Ligue 1 ladder and depending upon results this weekend, the visitors could be in 2nd place if they grab all three points at the Stade de la Beaujoire on Sunday night.
Lyon are expected to be without defender Benlamri, midfielder Aouar and forward Kadewere but forwards Ekambi and Depay will be keen to put Nantes to the sword here.