SM
Thursday, March 28
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
N
Ligue 1 | Gameweek 2
Aug 15, 2021 at 2pm UK
Stade de la Beaujoire - Louis Fonteneau
ML

Nantes
2 - 0
Metz

Kolo (12'), Blas (49')
Blas (53'), Coco (90')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Preview: Nantes vs. Metz - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Nantes vs. Metz - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Sunday's Ligue 1 clash between Nantes and Metz, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Nantes welcome Metz to the Stade de la Beaujoire for the second game of this new Ligue 1 season in what is, at this point in time, a mid-table clash.

Both sides will have been pleased with promising draws during the opening weekend, though, and will now be aiming to make it a win this time out.


Match preview

Nantes retained their top-flight status by the skin of their teeth last year, despite their improved fortunes under new manager Antoine Kombouare.

The former PSG coach succeeded bigger names, such as Christian Gourcuff and Raymond Domenech, as manager but had a bigger impact than his predecessors - four consecutive wins gave them the momentum to defeat Toulouse on away goals in the promotion/relegation playoff.

Their pre-season form was mixed, with victories over Guingamp and Brest, but losses to Caen, Lorient, Clermont and Ligue 2 Niort, so an opening game against Monaco looked to be a tough introduction to the season.

Les Canaries produced a resilient performance, though, with an excellent Jean-Charles Castelletto header and some stout defending earning them a point against last season's title challengers.

Metz also produced an impressive showing on the way to an unexpected draw, but in very different circumstances.

Taking on reigning champions Lille at home, Frederic Antonetti's side somehow found themselves 3-1 up with 40 minutes left to play, as their opponents adjusted to life under new manager Jocelyn Gourvennec.

After 56 minutes, though, Boubakar Kouyate saw red for a last-ditch tackle on Burak Yilmaz. Perhaps a slightly harsh decision but the defender's feet were off the floor and he appeared somewhat out of control - either way, it cost his team dearly.

Lille rallied and rescued a point, courtesy of a Jonathan Ikone finish and then a cruel 96th-minute equaliser which went down as an Alexandre Oukidja own goal - although, in truth, there was little the goalkeeper could do with Yilmaz's shot from close range.

Nonetheless, if Metz had been offered a draw when they discovered they would be travelling to face the champions in their first game, they likely would have taken it, and there was enough on show to demonstrate the side's potential for this campaign.

The two sides could well play out a second consecutive draw - five of the previous 10 meetings between the pair at the Nantes stadium have ended 0-0 - but, this time, Metz will be determined to make amends for their near-miss in the last game and Nantes will not be backing down at their home ground.

Nantes Ligue 1 form:
  • D

Nantes form (all competitions):
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • D

Metz Ligue 1 form:
  • D

Metz form (all competitions):
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • D

Team News

Pedro Chirivella will be available to return to the Nantes midfield, with the ex-Liverpool man having now served his suspension for an accumulation of bookings from last season.

His presence in the middle of the park will be a boost to the club, who lost the influential Imran Louza to Watford and have Abdoulaye Toure reportedly training away from the first team as he seeks to secure a move away from the club.

Kalifa Coulibaly remains out with a thigh injury, so Moses Simon and Randal Kolo Muani will continue as the attacking partnership in a 4-4-2 formation.

Metz will be without Kouyate as he serves his suspension for the aforementioned red card - with Kevin N'Doram likely dropping back into defence in his absence - and there are still injury problems for Vincent Pajot, Opa Nguette and a long-term issue for defender Manuel Cabit.

The club has seen a fair few departures over the summer, including John Boye, Victorien Angban and Thierry Ambrose, and very few arrivals to replace them as Les Grenats struggle, like much of the league, with the financial knock-on effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pape Sarr and Farid Boulaya remain in the team for now, though - despite reported interest in the pair - to help bolster the midfield in a 3-5-2 setup.

Nantes possible starting lineup:
Lafont; Appiah, Pallois, Castelletto, Fabio; Pereira, Chirivella, Moutoussamy, Blas; Simon, Kolo Muani

Metz possible starting lineup:
Oukidja; Bronn, N'Doram, Udol; Centonze, Boulaya, Maiga, Sarr, Delaine; Niane, Sabaly


We say: Nantes 0-0 Metz

With the return of Chirivella and the absence of Kouyate, Metz will be up against it. The impact of those two late goals could either fire them up or discourage them, whilst Nantes have not managed a win against their opponents since September 2017, so it is probably easiest to go with the form book and predict a dull 0-0 on this occasion.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or draw in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home/Draw:data




body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__459274 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-08-13 16:10:29:
html db last update - 2021-08-13 14:18:07 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Leeds 'in talks to sign Metz attacker Farid Boulaya'
Pochettino calls for "calm" over Sterling situation at Chelsea
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Paris Saint-GermainPSG26178162233959
2Brest26138536201647
3MonacoMonaco26137647361146
4Lille261110537231443
5Nice2612772720743
6Lens2612683527842
7Marseille26109740281239
8Rennes2610974031939
9Reims26115103435-138
10Lyon26104123040-1034
11Toulouse2678112936-729
12StrasbourgStrasbourg2678112839-1129
13Le HavreLe Havre2669112633-727
14Montpellier HSCMontpellier2669113140-926
15Lorient2668123549-1426
16NantesNantes2674152441-1725
17Metz2665152339-1623
18Clermont2648141943-2420
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Arsenal 'optimistic over triple injury boost for Man City clash'

1

A'

Record-breaking Arsenal teenager signs first professional contract

2

RA

Barcelona could be missing seven players for Las Palmas clash

NEW

3

BC

How Chelsea could line up against Burnley

4

HC

Preview: Chelsea vs. Burnley - prediction, team news, lineups

5

PC

Man Utd 'add Colombia international to defensive shortlist'

6

MU

Chelsea face five fresh fitness concerns ahead of Burnley game

7

CF

Pochettino calls for "calm" over Sterling situation at Chelsea

8

PC

Preview: Newcastle vs. West Ham - prediction, team news, lineups

9

PN

How Man United could line up against Brentford

10

HM


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .