Preview: Nantes vs. Toulouse

Both looking to ease lingering concerns of a potential relegation dogfight, Nantes and Toulouse will clash at Stade de la Beaujoire for precious Ligue 1 points on Sunday afternoon.

Les Canaris managed a respectable result against the French champions last time out, whilst Les Violets’ awful losing run continued at the base of Reims.

Match preview

© Imago

After finishing just four points above the relegation zone during the 2023-24 campaign, Nantes look set for more of the same this time around, with Sunday afternoon’s hosts staring a lowly placement in the face following a run of just two victories across their last seven Ligue 1 battles.

That being said, Les Canaris are showing significant signs of life as they attempt to preserve their top-tier status, as exhibited at Stade de la Beaujoire on Tuesday night, when they became only the sixth side to take points off league winners Paris Saint-Germain this season.

The Champions League semi-finalists were on course for a routine domestic success on the road as Portuguese maestro Vitinha fired Les Parisiens ahead during the first half, but Nantes mounted a comeback late on, with a 83rd-minute Douglas Augusto strike forcing a share of the spoils.

Winning just one of their most recent quartet of top-flight clashes, Antoine Kombouare‘s men are currently occupying 14th spot in the Ligue 1 rankings ahead of this weekend’s hosting of Toulouse, four points ahead of Le Havre and Saint-Etienne in 16th and 17th respectively.

Only Montpellier HSC (3) and Le Havre (3) have won fewer than Nantes’ four matches on home soil in Ligue 1 this season, but Les Canaris have a reputation of turning up for the big occasion at Stade de la Beaujoire, beating Lens and Lille at the venue so far this calendar year.

© Imago

Despite the excitement surrounding a potential Middle-Eastern takeover at the club, there is currently a dark cloud circling around Stadium de Toulouse, with Sunday afternoon’s visitors in the midst of a five-game losing run, their longest since a six-match streak of defeats in February 2020.

Les Violets’ woeful recent record worsened last Sunday, when a first-half strike from American Jordan Pefok secured maximum points for Reims at Stade Auguste-Delaune, where the goalscorer’s compatriot Mark McKenzie was dismissed during the opening 30 minutes for the visitors.

Last enjoying the feeling of top-tier victory on March 2, Carles Martinez‘s troops could be dragged into relegation trouble during the final four matches of the 2024-25 season, with Toulouse sitting in 12th spot at the moment, seven points above strugglers Le Havre and Saint-Etienne.

In the middle of their longest losing run for over five years, Les Violets are unsurprisingly faltering on the road – losing each of their last three away matches – but Toulouse have the potential to shine on their travels, as highlighted by convincing successes at Le Havre (4-1) and Angers (4-0) prior to the March international break.

Unlike some of their competitors near the foot of the Ligue 1 rankings, Martinez’s men have a number of attacking stars who are capable of providing a moment of magic at the top end of the pitch, including Zakaria Aboukhlal, who leads his club’s Golden Boot race with seven league strikes.

Nantes Ligue 1 form:

Toulouse Ligue 1 form:

Team News

© Iconsport

Seeing red during the 2-1 defeat to Rennes earlier in the month, Nantes defender Marcus Regis Coco is suspended for this weekend’s clash at Stade de la Beaujoire.

An ex-Lyon stalwart, Anthony Lopes‘s debut campaign for Les Canaris has been hindered by injuries, the latest of which was a knock picked up at Rennes.

The hosts are also battling on without the experienced head of Francis Coquelin, with the former Arsenal enforcer sidelined until May because of a hamstring problem.

With McKenzie on the naughty step following his red card last time out, Toulouse are likely to bring 21-year-old Umit Akdag into their struggling backline.

Les Violets’ options in the middle of the park are restricted by the absence of Niklas Schmidt, who is out for the remainder of the term owing to a knee injury.

Nantes possible starting lineup:
Carlgren; Castelletto, Pallois, Zeze; Amian, Augusto, Centonze, Lepanant, Cozza; Abline, Simon

We say: Nantes 2-1 Toulouse

After snatching a point off runaway leaders PSG earlier in the week, Nantes will fancy their chances against a Lille side who are bang out of form.

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