Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Nantesvs.Auxerre

sportsmole.co.uk, 23 August 2024, 15:01
Newly-promoted Auxerre will travel to Stade de la Beaujoire to face Nantes on Saturday, aiming to build on their opening day victory in the 2024-25 Ligue 1 season.

The visitors beat Nice 2-1 to kickstart their term, while the visitors held on to a 0-0 draw against Toulouse in the first game of the campaign.

Match preview

Following a dismal 2011-12 campaign that saw Auxerre finish at the bottom of the table with just 34 points, ending their 32-year stay in the top flight, AJA had to wait until the 2021-22 season to finally secure their return to Ligue 1.

Their survival was in their own hands on the final day of 2022-23, sitting two points above the relegation zone with one game left to play, but they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Lens while Nantes won 1-0, consigning Auxerre to relegation.

Auxerre made easy work of Ligue 2 in the following campaign, comfortably placing at the top of the table with a six-point lead over second-placed Angers, bouncing straight back into the top division in their first attempt.

Christophe Pelissier's team had a mixed pre-season ahead of their opening Ligue 1 fixture, winning two, drawing two and losing one of their five friendly matches.

However, they got off to the perfect start in the league, producing a fantastic performance against Nice at home and eventually securing a 2-1 victory thanks to a 95th-minute winner from Lasso Coulibaly.

Pelissier will be aiming to continue the team's positive momentum with a strong performance against Nantes, a side they have shared the spoils with in recent years, winning 11 and losing eight of the last 28 meetings.

Nantes head into this game having narrowly avoided relegation in both of the last two seasons, finishing a point above the drop zone in 2022-23 and four points in 2023-24.

While they will undoubtedly be pleased to have retained their place in the division, those seasons would have come as a major disappointment after finishing ninth and securing Europa League football with a Coupe de France victory in 2021-22.

Antoine Kombouare, who had previously managed Nantes between February 2021 and May 2023, returned to the club in March 2024 after Jocelyn Gourvennec was sacked following 10 losses in 15 league games.

Kombouare failed to improve Nantes's form towards the end of the last campaign, winning just two of the final eight league matches, but they enjoyed a positive pre-season with three wins and two draws from six fixtures.

They faced a difficult trip to Toulouse in their opening Ligue 1 fixture, and despite conceding 1.71xG and creating just 0.47xG, Nantes were able to hold on to a 0-0 draw.

Nantes Ligue 1 form:

Auxerre Ligue 1 form:

Team News

The hosts will be without Fabien Centonze, due to a cruciate ligament injury that will keep him out until April 2025, Florent Mollet, who is out until September, and Ignatius Ganago, who is out until September with a cruciate ligament injury.

Elsewhere, a similar side that started against Toulouse could feature in this one after a positive result, with the only change potentially seeing Mostafa Mohamed come into the team for Matthis Abline in attack.

The visitors will be unable to call upon the services of Ange N'Gatta, Clement Akpa, Gideon Mensah and Ousmane Camara due to injury issues.

Rayan Raveloson and Coulibaly scored the goals for Auxerre in their victory against Nice, and both could be in line for a start in this one.

Nantes possible starting lineup:

Lafont; Coco, Castelletto, Zeze, Amian; Chirivella, Augusto; Thomas, Kadewere, Simon; Mohamed

Auxerre possible starting lineup:

Leon; Joly, Jubal, Osho, Pellenard; Coulibaly, Raveloson, Owusu, Sinayoko; Bair, Onaiwu

We say: Nantes 1-1 Auxerre

Previews by email

Top News

14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England moved to the top of their 2024-25 UEFA Nations League group on Thursday evening courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Greece. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Didier Deschamps was left frustrated on Thursday as his France side failed to capitalise on their dominance against Israel, being held to a 0-0 draw, though they still progressed to the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals after Italy beat Belgium in the other League A Group 2 fixture. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England have risen to the top of Group 2 of League B in the UEFA Nations League courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Greece in Athens on Thursday night. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sandro Tonali's first international goal was enough to send Italy through to the finals of the UEFA Nations League courtesy of a 1-0 win away in Belgium this evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea Women and Manchester City Women will go head-to-head in Saturday's top-of-the-table clash at Stamford Bridge. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Pep Guardiola has asked Manchester City to sign two defenders in 2025, according to a report. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Al-Nassr centre-back Aymeric Laporte has said that he is open to making the move to Real Madrid. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona sporting director Deco has said that his club are not planning to be active during the January transfer window. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Moldova can boost their hopes of securing promotion from League D Group 2 in the UEFA Nations League when they face fellow European minnows Andorra at Estadi Nacional on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Montenegro welcome Iceland to Stadion Kraj Bistrice in Niksic for their penultimate League B Group 4 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal Women and Tottenham Hotspur Women will be looking to secure derby bragging rights when they face off in Saturday's Women's Super League clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nacho has ruled out the possibility of returning to Real Madrid amid suggestions that Los Blancos were considering making an attempt to re-sign him during the January transfer window. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams with contrasting objectives in the National League are set to meet at the Gateshead International Stadium on Saturday, as promotion hopefuls Gateshead host relegation-threatened Aldershot Town. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim will reportedly take Manchester United training for the first time on Monday, with the club confident that his visa will have arrived in time for him to officially get on the grass next week. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has said that a back issue forced Lisandro Martinez to pull out of the squad for the national team's upcoming 2026 World Cup qualification matches with Paraguay and Peru. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has reportedly set his sights on an exit from the club next summer, and plans to take key man Alex Grimaldo with him. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Locked together at the top of League C Group 1 with two games to play, Sweden and Slovakia will battle it out to take the outright lead when they meet on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal will reportedly allow out-of-favour defender Jakub Kiwior to leave the club on loan in January. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wales travel to the Kadir Has Stadium in Kayseri to face Turkey in their penultimate League B Group 4 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona midfielder Pablo Torre has not ruled out the possibility of leaving the club in January, after seeing his game time reduced recently. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to narrow their gap to the top two in the League One table with a third consecutive victory, Barnsley will visit the Abbey Stadium to take on Cambridge United on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Isak has delivered a fresh update on his future at Newcastle United, amid reported interest from a number of clubs including Arsenal. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United Women will attempt to claim back-to-back victories when they travel to the Broadfield Stadium for Saturday's Women's Super League meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion Women. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Roma have confirmed the appointment of 73-year-old Claudio Ranieri as their new first-team manager until the end of the season. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon has revealed that he was "desperate" to join Chelsea in 2022. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal could rival Manchester City and Liverpool for the signature of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly weighing up whether to make a move for in-form PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk As exquisite as Pedro Neto's equaliser was, the Portuguese's 20-yard leveller for Chelsea in Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Arsenal was arguably more to do with the Gunners' uncharacteristic defensive failings. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly made a decision over whether they will pursue a move for Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Estevao Willian has revealed that he will continue with his education even after completing a big-money transfer to Chelsea.