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

One place separates both relegation-threatened sides in the standings before the gameweek 23 match, with the visitors seeking back-to-back road victories for the first time since 2021.

Match preview

Lorient were in dire straits at the start of the year, losing 3-0 at Lille on January 14 to take their run of consecutive Ligue 1 defeats to four, but Regis Le Bris's men have turned the tide since a rip-roaring 3-3 draw with Le Havre at the end of last month.

Les Merlus have since won three games on the trot, matching the form teams in the division in February — Paris Saint-Germain, Rennes and Lyon.

The home side have netted seven times and conceded twice in that run, also matching PSG, in a streak that has witnessed three league victories on the trot for the first time since September-October 2022, when they claimed six victories.

One of their victories in the ongoing streak was a home win over Reims, and they welcome Nantes keen to record consecutive triumphs in front of their supporters for the first time since claiming four on the trot from August to October 2022.

However, a poor record against Saturday's opponents — Lorient have claimed just one victory in 14 Ligue 1 games over the Canaries, drawing three and losing 10, with the only triumph coming in September 2022 — threatens to halt Les Merlus' top-flight ascent.

Nantes are not expected to be willing enemies this weekend, with both sides locked on 22 points and the winner potentially rising to mid-table.

The Canaries did claim maximum points on their last road game, defeating 13th-placed Toulouse 2-1 to extend their unbeaten away run to three, and they seek to make that three without losing on their travels at Lorient.

Claiming maximum points at Stade du Moustoir would be the away side's second road triumph on the bounce, something not achieved since December 2021 when they defeated this weekend's opponents and St Etienne.

It remains to be seen if Jocelyn Gourvennec's men stun in-form Lorient to leapfrog the hosts in the table, but the possibility should motivate the away side on Saturday.

Losing would be far from ideal for a side whose 12 losses in 22 league games has already set an unwanted record of losses in Nantes' top-flight history.

Lorient Ligue 1 form:

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Lorient form (all competitions):

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Nantes Ligue 1 form:

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Nantes form (all competitions):

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Team News

Le Bris' men have several injuries to deal with, with Bonke Innocent (thigh), Igor Silva (knee), Benjamin Mendy (hamstring) and Quentin Boisgard (foot) expected to be sidelined until March.

Furthermore, Panos Katseris (calf) and Imran Louza are in the wars for a few weeks, while Montassar Talbi's shoulder issue should keep the defender out until April.

Mohamed Bamba has netted five times in just four appearances since joining the club, making the January arrival the home side's top threat this weekend.

Alban Lafont is ruled out for Nantes with a muscle injury, while Kelvin Amian (hamstring) and Bastien Meupiyou (knee) are absent until next month.

Mostafa Mohamed scored and assisted for the Canaries at Toulouse, and the Egypt international could be pivotal for the visitors in gameweek 23.

Lorient possible starting lineup:

Mvogo; Adjei, Laporte, Toure; Kalulu, Abergel, Bakayoko, Le Bris; Ponceau, Kari; Bamba

Nantes possible starting lineup:

Deschamps; Castelletto, Pallois, Zeze; Coco, Chirivella, Augusto, Sissoko, Cozza; Kadewere, Mohamed

We say: Lorient 2-1 Nantes

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