After suffering back-to-back losses, Nantes will be keen to get themselves back to winning ways when they welcome Rennes to the Stade de la Beaujoire on Sunday afternoon.
Both sides were knocked out of the Europa League in their most recent outings, with Les Canaris enduring a 3-0 defeat in their midweek clash with Juventus, while the away side brutally exited the competition in a penalty shootout against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Match preview
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The home side will be aiming to get back to the form that saw them unbeaten in four earlier this month, as a lack of defensive solidity has cost them in their previous two fixtures.
In their most recent fixture, Nantes were picked apart by Juventus, as an early Nicolas Pallois red card and penalty left the hosts 2-0 down and with 10 men after only 20 minutes played. The game was later sealed when Angel Di Maria secured his hat-trick, meaning the French outfit would be eliminated from the competition.
With their sights now set on the league, a top-half finish to the season is still within the realms of possibility for Antoine Kombouare's men, as they are currently nine points clear of the relegation zone in 13th position.
A tight defensive record has allowed them to keep themselves clear of the relegation zone this season, holding the second-best record in the division for clean sheets only behind league leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
However, it has been in offence where they have laboured at times this season, as a record of 25 goals is the joint fifth-worst in the league alongside Brest and will be a department they will need to improve in if they are to begin to climb the Ligue 1 table.
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Meanwhile, Bruno Genesio will hope that the last two fixtures are indicative of a return to form following a difficult last two months for his side, as they have recorded six losses already this year after losing only three times before the turn of the year.
An agonising 119th-minute own goal by Jeanuel Belocian in their midweek Europa League clash meant that Shakhtar Donetsk were able to progress past Rennes through a penalty shootout, but a bright performance from the away side will give them plenty of confidence heading into the remainder of the Ligue 1 season.
However, Les Rouge et Noir hold an awful away record for a side that is currently fifth in the league, as they rank 14th in the away table having only acquired 10 points on the road this season.
If they are to close the six-point gap on Lens in fourth position, it will be vital that the visitors are more defensively resilient in this game, as they are still without a clean sheet away from home this campaign.
Although, Rennes will come into this affair with confidence, as Amine Gouiri, Martin Terrier and Desire Doue all got on the scoresheet in a convincing 3-0 victory over their opponents earlier in the season.
Team News
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Kombouare is expected to make three changes from the side that started against Juventus midweek.
Jean-Charles Castelletto is predicted to make way for Sebastien Corchia due to a change of system from a back five to a back four.
After both being replaced at half time in midweek, Moussa Sissoko and Andy Delort are both anticipated to be benched for this match, with Samuel Moutoussamy and Evann Guessand taking their places in the side.
Likewise, Genesio is also set to make three changes to the side that were knocked out of the Europa League against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Neither Warmed Omari nor Jeanuel Belocian are expected to start in this game, with the usual centre-back partnership of Arthur Theate and Joe Rodon expected to return to the starting XI.
Despite assisting in the midweek game, Jeremy Doku is likely to drop out of the starting lineup, with Benjamin Bourigeaud set to come back into the side after being unavailable for the Shakhtar game due to a suspension.
Nantes possible starting lineup:
Lafont; Centonze, Pallois, Girotto, Corchia; Moutoussamy, Chirivella; Simon, Mollet, Blas; Guessand
Rennes possible starting lineup:
Mandanda; Spence, Rodon, Theate, Truffert; Bourigeaud, Santamaria, Majer, Ekambi, Kalimuendo, Gouiri
We say: Nantes 1-1 Rennes
We believe that this match will end in a stalemate between the two sides due to Rennes' inability to obtain results away from home.
We think that Nantes will be defensively resolute to frustrate their opponents in offensive areas and will get opportunities to hurt them on the break.
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