Nearly four months on from their defeat in the Coupe de France final, Nantes seek revenge on Ligue 1's opening day, as Toulouse visit Stade de la Beaujoire on Sunday afternoon.
Having been crushed 5-1 by Les Pitchouns as their cup defence came to a humbling conclusion in Paris, the hosts now aim for a sharp start to the new season after flirting with the drop last term.
Match preview
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While Nantes ultimately came up short in their efforts to lift consecutive Coupes de France, just a few weeks after being turned over by Toulouse at the Stade de France they still had reason to celebrate.
Les Canaris pulled off a last-gasp escape from the Ligue 1 relegation zone on the final day of the 2022-23 campaign, as beating already-relegated Angers moved them onto 36 points - just enough to ensure Auxerre dropped down to Ligue 2 instead.
After ending a long winless run and surviving by a single point, Nantes will now be seeking a return to the top half of the table, following a ninth-placed finish in their cup-winning year of 2021-22.
Former youth team boss Pierre Aristouy was appointed permanent manager earlier this summer, but has seen Andrei Girotto and Ludovic Blas both depart during a pre-season period featuring just one victory - once again, Angers were Nantes' victims.
Back-to-back losses against Lorient and Koln provided a dismal start to August, and the Loire club have not kicked off any Ligue 1 campaign with a win since 2016, when they beat Dijon 1-0. Since then, they have lost three and drawn three subsequent first-day fixtures.
This week, Nantes - who have won only one of their last 15 league matches and failed to score in half their home games this year - will face Toulouse for the 64th time in Ligue 1, though this is the first occasion the teams have met on matchday one.
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Indeed, Sunday's visitors have gone five Ligue 1 seasons without recording a victory on the opening day, since a 2-1 defeat of St Etienne back in 2015.
Toulouse will also arrive in Nantes on a run of four straight league defeats against their hosts at La Beaujoire, so new boss Carles Martinez - a former Barcelona youth coach who worked under previous manager Philippe Montanier - will be up against precedent on his dugout debut.
After lifting the Ligue 2 title in 2022, Les Violets finished 12 points above Nantes in 13th place last term, in addition to winning the Coupe de France by beating Antoine Kombouare's side 5-1 in the final; sealing a long-awaited return to Europe.
Like Nantes, a change in the manager's hotseat has ensued, and the untried Martinez now steps into a vacancy created by Montanier's departure. Three of his first four pre-season friendlies ended in defeat, but recent warm-up wins over Osasuna and Roma have at least brightened the mood of late.
Ajax-bound playmaker Branco van den Boomen has joined captain Brecht Dejaegere and fellow midfielder Stijn Spierings in following Montanier through the door this summer, so Martinez may have his hands full in repeating last season's feats in the months ahead.
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Team News
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Nantes will have several selection holes to fill for Sunday's Ligue 1 opener, as Brazilian defender Andrei Girotto has left France to join Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Taawoun and Andy Delort previously decided to depart for Qatar.
Full-back Sebastien Corchia also exited at the end of his contract, while Ludovic Blas has signed for Rennes; coming in, Ronael Pierre-Gabriel returns to Ligue 1 following spells in Germany and Spain, and Egyptian striker Mostafa Mohamed has made his loan move from Galatasaray permanent.
Ignatius Ganago remains at La Beaujoire, and having started up front in two recent friendly defeats, last season's final-day saviour will lead the line again this weekend; ex-Toulouse goalkeeper Alban Lafont captains the home side.
Toulouse, meanwhile, have seen their midfield picked apart this summer, and several players also left at the end of their deals, but Niklas Schmidt has been acquired from Werder Bremen and could play a part on Sunday.
Dutch striker Thijs Dallinga, who scored 12 times last season and twice in the cup final, has found the net against both Osasuna and Roma in the past fortnight so is set to lead the visitors' front line.
Nantes possible starting lineup:
Lafont; Centonze, Pallois, M'Bemba, Hadjam; Moutoussamy, Chirivella; Simon, Mollet, Merlin; Ganago
Toulouse possible starting lineup:
Restes; Desler, Costa, Nicolaisen, Diarra; Casseres, Sierro; Aboukhlal, Genreau, Suazo; Dallinga
We say: Nantes 1-1 Toulouse
Both sides seem weakened by their transfer-window dealings so far, and a low-scoring encounter could be on the cards when they meet on Ligue 1's opening day. Even in pre-season, Nantes have lost that winning feeling, so they may have to settle for a home draw against their cup final conquerors.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
