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

Les Merlus defeated Lyon 3-1 in Wednesday's rearranged fixture, while the visitors opened their Europa League campaign with a 2-1 success over Greek giants Olympiacos.

Match preview

Not even a top-flight football stadium was safe from the effects of Europe's summer heatwaves, as Lorient's gameweek two clash with Lyon was originally postponed due to an unplayable pitch, but Les Merlus were clearly thankful for the added preparation time.

Wednesday's encounter with Les Gones saw Regis Le Bris's side take the lead through Enzo Le Fee's pinpoint free kick before Lyon captain Alexandre Lacazette levelled the scores, but Terem Moffi and Dango Ouattara responded for Lorient in front of their own fans.

A change in the dugout has led to a major change in fortunes for Lorient since bidding farewell to Christophe Pelissier, and a tally of 13 points from a possible 18 sees Les Merlus mixing with the big boys in fifth place - level with fourth-placed Lyon and one behind Lens in the final podium spot - at the time of writing.

That humbling 5-2 loss at the hands of Lens - whom they were promoted to Ligue 1 alongside in 2020 - has simply proved to be a minor blip for Le Bris's side, who have won three of their last four in Ligue 1, thanks in no small part to the efforts of Moffi.

Consistency has been a problem for the Nigerian 23-year-old, but he has shone in the opening stages of the new term with five goals from six outings as Lorient seek to continue their 100% record at home versus another revered opponent.

Nantes' Ligue 1 fortunes had taken a nosedive prior to welcoming Olympiacos to the Stade de la Beaujoire, but a European night galvanised both players and fans alike as Antoine Kombouare's side gleaned all three points from their maiden Europa League fixture.

Mostafa Mohamed coolly curled home the opener in the 32nd minute before Samuel Moutoussamy stood and watched the ball deflect off him into his own net following a corner, but Evann Guessand was in the right place at the right time to meet Ludovic Blas's cross and head home a dramatic late winner.

Kicking off life in Europa League Group G with three points was just what the doctor ordered for Les Canaris following their 3-0 Ligue 1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain last weekend, and Kombouare's side have found it difficult to replicate their domestic form of 2021-22.

Without Randal Kolo Muani leading the line, Nantes have posted just one win from their opening six matches and occupy 13th spot in the table at present, and Kombouare must also factor in Thursday's long trip to Qarabag this weekend.

Now without a clean sheet in six straight matches, Nantes head into Sunday's game aiming to put an end to a seven-game winless record on the road in Ligue 1, and their 11-game unbeaten run versus Lorient will certainly serve as a morale-booster.

Lorient Ligue 1 form:

Nantes Ligue 1 form:

Nantes form (all competitions):

Team News

Lorient came through their 3-1 success over Lyon unscathed, but the duo of Quentin Boisgard (quadriceps) and Igor Silva (hamstring) missed out and are not expected to recover in time for Sunday.

Per Ligue 1 rules, Lorient's wave of late summer arrivals were not permitted to take part in Wednesday's win given that they were not registered when the fixture was originally due to be played, so Le Bris's options will be boosted greatly here.

New faces in Vito Mannone, Adil Aouchiche, Sirine Doucoure, Chrislain Matsima and Yoann Cathline should all apply for places in the squad this weekend, but Le Bris will be loath to make any changes to his first XI if he can help it.

As for Nantes, full-back Fabio has been slapped with a three-game ban with one game suspended following his early sending off in the defeat to PSG, but Kombouare has no other concerns at hand.

Fabio was only named on the bench for the win over Olympiacos anyway - Dennis Appiah and Quentin Merlin were preferred in the full-back areas - while Moses Simon, Moussa Sissoko and Jean-Charles Castelletto were all fit to make the bench.

The trio are options for change for the visitors as they juggle domestic and continental duties, and Simon should be in with a strong chance of demoting Ignatius Ganago to the bench.

Lorient possible starting lineup:

Mvogo; Kalulu, Talbi, Laporte, Le Goff; Innocent, Abergel, Le Fee; Diarra, Moffi, Ouattara

Nantes possible starting lineup:

Lafont; Corchia, Castelletto, Girotto, Merlin; Sissoko, Chirivella; Guessand, Blas, Simon; Mohamed

We say: Lorient 2-1 Nantes

As much as Lorient were helped by some individual Lyon errors in midweek, take nothing away from Les Merlus' stunning start to the campaign, and a third-straight win at the Stade du Moustoir is on the cards.

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