Brestvs.Nantes

sportsmole.co.uk, 2 May 2024, 21:39
Brest will continue their bid to secure a top-three finish when they welcome Nantes to the Stade Francis-Le Ble for Saturday's Ligue 1 contest.

As for the visitors, they are fighting for their Ligue 1 survival with three points separating them from the bottom three.

Match preview

Brest have already secured European football for the first time in their history after they showed great character to beat Rennes 5-4 last weekend despite spurning a two-goal lead in the contest.

After conceding two early goals, Brest fought back to establish a 4-2 lead thanks to efforts from Steve Mounie, Martin Satriano and Mahdi Camara as well as a Warmed Omari own goal.

However, Eric Roy's side conceded two goals in 11 minutes to leave the game heading towards a draw, before Lilian Brassier netted a dramatic 96th-minute equaliser to snatch maximum points and help his side return to winning ways following consecutive defeats.

Brest are guaranteed to surpass their previous best top-flight finish of eighth place in 1987-88, but they still have the chance to create more history in their final three matches against Nantes, Reims and Toulouse.

Having collected 56 points from 31 matches, Les Pirates are sitting in third spot and one point clear of Lille in fourth position, leaving them well set to secure a top-three finish and automatic Champions League qualification.

In contrast to their hosts, Nantes are fighting at the opposite end of the table after mustering 32 points from 31 matches.

Nantes may have a sizeable six-point gap to the bottom two, but they are far from safe with just three points separating them from the relegation playoff spot ahead of their final three fixtures against Brest, Reims and Toulouse.

Antoine Kombouare has experienced mixed results since returning to the Nantes dugout in March, with his five matches producing two wins, one draw and two defeats.

Les Canaris have failed to win either of their last two matches, suffering a heavy 3-0 home defeat to Rennes before playing out a 1-1 draw in their recent away outing against Montpellier.

Nantes will fancy their chances of picking up at least a point from Sunday's contest after winning four, drawing two and losing just one of their previous seven away league matches.

Brest Ligue 1 form:

D

W

W

L

L

W

Nantes Ligue 1 form:

L

W

L

W

L

D

Team News

Although Roy will have the majority of his Brest squad available for the weekend, he is unable to call upon defender Julien Le Cardinal, who will serve a one-match suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards.

Camara is likely to retain his place in the linuep after he found the net on his first start since the end of March.

Mounie will continue to offer one of Brest's main goal threats, having scored three times in the last four league matches.

As for the visitors, they are expected to be without the services of Ignatius Ganago, Douglas Augusto, Bastien Meupiyou, Moses Simon and Remy Descamps.

Pedro Chirivella will be ready to take his place in the side despite being forced off last weekend with an injury issue.

Samuel Moutoussamy could be recalled to partner Chirivella in midfield after he dropped down to the bench for the draw with Montpellier.

Brest possible starting lineup:

Bizot; Lala, Chardonnet, Brassier, Locko; Lees-Melou, Magnetti, Satriano, Camara, Del Castillo; Mounie

Nantes possible starting lineup:

Lafont; Amian, Castelletto, Pallois, Cozza; Moutoussamy, Chirivella; Mollet, Sissoko, Abline; Mohamed

We say: Brest 2-1 Nantes

Brest have won the last two head-to-head meetings by a 2-0 scoreline, and after winning three of their last five home matches, we think that the hosts will make full use of home advantage to claim a narrow victory.

Previews by email

Top News

27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton vs. Brentford (Friday, 7.30pm) Brighton & Hove Albion welcome Brentford to the Amex in one of two games being played after Boxing Day in the Premier League. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly shortlisted 22-year-old Boca Juniors goalkeeper Leandro Brey as a transfer target for the January 2025 window. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim has suffered the worst start of a Manchester United manager in 92 years thanks to Thursday's disheartening 2-0 Premier League loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea suffered their worst Premier League collapse of the 2000s in their shock 2-1 home loss to Fulham at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk AVS and Estrela Amadora are in action for the last time in 2024 when they go head to head at the Estadio do Desportivo das Aves in round 16 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga on Saturday. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool wing wizard Mohamed Salah hit yet another Premier League goalscoring landmark as Arne Slot's league leaders fought back to defeat Leicester City 3-1 on Boxing Day. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table courtesy of a 3-1 victory over Leicester City at Anfield on Boxing Day. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have lost key midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai to suspension for their trip to West Ham United in the Premier League this weekend. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The only team in the Premier League with their unbeaten home record still intact, Arsenal seek to avoid a festive giant killing in Friday's Emirates encounter with Ipswich Town. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The agent of Manchester United attacker Antony has confirmed that there is "concrete interest" in the Brazilian ahead of the January transfer window. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur's defensive crisis worsened in their 1-0 Premier League loss to Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day, as Djed Spence was sent off while Radu Dragusin sustained an ankle injury. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to end 2024 on top of Serie A, league leaders Atalanta BC will tackle close challengers Lazio at Stadio Olimpico on Saturday evening. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea hotshot Cole Palmer broke a 23-year-old club goalscoring record set by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in the Blues' shock 2-1 Premier League defeat to West London derby rivals Fulham at Stamford Bridge. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Julen Lopetegui's West Ham United beat Southampton 1-0 away from home on Thursday afternoon and spoiled Saints manager Ivan Juric's first game in charge of the club. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest have shot back into third place in the Premier League table thanks to Nuno Espirito Santo masterminding a 1-0 win over former club Tottenham Hotspur. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Andoni Iraola's Champions League hopefuls Bournemouth were held to a 0-0 draw away from home by Crystal Palace on Boxing Day at the Vitality Stadium in the Premier League. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Rodrigo Muniz scored a last-gasp winner as Fulham sensationally came from behind to defeat West London rivals Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to arrest their underwhelming Primeira Liga results before Christmas, Estoril Praia and Moreirense clash at Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota on Saturday, keen to notch important victories in the gameweek 16 encounter. 26 December 2024 talksport.com Birmingham's Boxing Day clash with Burton had to be temporarily suspended due to a medical emergency at St Andrew's. 26 December 2024 talksport.com Kevin De Bruyne certainly wasn't in the festive spirit after walking down the tunnel immediately after Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw against Everton. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Jose Mourinho reportedly wants Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford at Fenerbahce, while Paris Saint-Germain will not sign the 27-year-old. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Erling Haaland missed a second-half penalty as Manchester City's Premier League plight continued with a 1-1 draw at home to a dogged Everton unit at the Etihad Stadium. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Primeira Liga title contenders Porto could climb to first place on Saturday when they host relegation-threatened Boavista at Estadio do Dragao in gameweek 16. 26 December 2024 talksport.com Goalkeepers tend to be a little crazy and Jordan Pickford is no different. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea and Fulham have announced their teams for the West London derby at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are paying increased attention to Atalanta BC midfielder Ederson ahead of a potential summer move to Old Trafford. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal pair Gabriel Jesus and David Raya could both write new chapters of Gunners history when Mikel Arteta's men host Ipswich Town in Friday's Premier League encounter. 26 December 2024 talksport.com Christmas may have come and gone, but Man City' boss Pep Guardiola - and his players - are hoping for presents in the form of new signings. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to finish a successful year with a streak of five straight Serie A wins, Inter Milan will visit Cagliari on Saturday, as both sides play their final fixture of 2024. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are supposedly all prepared to go head-to-head for the services of Club Brugge defender Maxim De Cuyper in the January window.