Struggling Bordeaux welcome Nantes to the Stade Matmut-Atlantique on Sunday afternoon as the 2021-22 Ligue 1 season begins to take shape.
The hosts have managed just one win and now sit 16th in the table, whilst their upcoming opponents are safely in mid-table and come into the game on the back of a win before the international break.
Match preview
A change of manager over the summer does not appear to have had the desired effect for Bordeaux.
After three disappointing seasons saw them finish in the bottom half - 14th, 12th and 12th - the owners of the south-west club decided to bring in former Switzerland boss Vladimir Petkovic to turn things around.
It has not worked out as planned yet, however, and the club find themselves looking over their shoulder at the relegation spots, after a spell of a win and two draws proved not to be the start of a resurgence as they fell to a 3-0 defeat at Monaco before the international break.
Goals either side of half time from Aurelien Tchouameni and Aleksandr Golovin put Les Monegasques two up and Wissam Ben Yedder secured the result with a penalty just after the hour mark.
A return to home soil is also not necessarily the positive one would expect, as Les Girondins' performances on the road have actually been far superior to their home form, with five of their seven points having been picked up on their travels.
Nantes have been somewhat all or nothing so far this season, with just one draw in their first eight Ligue 1 matches, which came against Monaco in the season-opener.
That continued in their most recent game as they produced a solid 2-0 win at home to Troyes, where an Andrei Girotto header and a Ludovic Blas penalty - both coming in the second half - secured the three points for Antoine Kombouare's side.
It may have come after a 3-1 loss to fellow mid-table team Reims, but that is nonetheless three wins from Nantes' last four games and they appear to be heading in the right direction.
Les Canaries experienced a close call with the drop last term, surviving a relegation playoff with Toulouse, so they will be more than content with their start to this season that has seen them collect 13 points from nine games.
Nantes comfortably won the pair's previous meeting back in May, but their hosts have the edge in this fixture, having won three of the last six encounters.
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Team News
Stian Rode Gregersen misses out for Bordeaux through suspension, with Timothee Pembele the most likely to come into the left side of a back three.
Honduran forward Alberth Elis is finally fit, and is knocking on the door for a start, but Petkovic may err on the side of caution after such a long lay-off and introduce him from the bench.
Captain Laurent Koscielny remains out with an ankle injury, as does Issouf Sissokho through illness, and it appears that Josh Maja will not have recovered in time.
Nantes have a suspension of their own to deal with in Jean-Charles Castelletto, which will see goalscorer Girotto be joined in central defence by Nicolas Pallois.
Willem Geubbels made his full debut on the right wing in the win over Troyes and may have done enough to retain his spot, but will be challenged by the on-loan Osman Bukari.
Bordeaux possible starting lineup:
Costil; Kwateng, Mexer, Pembele; Oudin, Otavio, Fransergio, Mangas; Adli; Kalu, Hwang
Nantes possible starting lineup:
Lafont; Appiah, Girotto, Pallois, Traore; Cyprien, Chirivella; Geubbels, Blas, Simon; Kolo Muani
We say: Bordeaux 1-1 Nantes
Nantes come into the game in better form but Bordeaux will be aware that these are the kind of games they really must be taking something from if they are to avoid falling into a relegation battle. The visitors are long overdue a draw and that is what we are backing on this occasion.
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