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

The hosts, meanwhile, have recently climbed out of the relegation zone and will be looking to extend their unbeaten league run to three matches.

Match preview

Nantes head into Sunday's contest off the back of a dramatic 2-1 Europa League victory at home against Qarabag on Thursday night, a result which keep their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds alive.

Ludovic Blas saw his 16th-minute opener cancelled out by a converted penalty from Filip Ozobic just before the hour mark, but a 94th-minute winner from substitute Ignatius Ganago helped the Canaries snatched all three points, sparking wild scenes at the Stade de la Beaujoire.

While just one point separates third-placed Nantes from Qarabag in second in Group G, Antoine Kombouare's side are languishing in 15th place in Ligue 1, just two points above the relegation zone.

Four points picked up in their last two league games against Brest and Nice have seen the Canaries climb out of the bottom four, and with three favourable-looking fixtures up next before the World Cup break, Kombouare will be hoping his team can steer themselves further clear of the drop zone.

Nantes have enjoyed a strong run of form on home soil since the turn of the year, losing just two of their last 15 Ligue 1 home matches at the Stade de la Beaujoire, including the 3-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in September.

The Canaries did the double over Clermont last season and another victory on Sunday could see them climb to as high as 11th place if other results were to go their way.

Clermont were unable to extend their unbeaten Ligue 1 run to five matches as they suffered a 3-1 home defeat against Brest last weekend.

Romain Del Castillo, Jeremy Le Douaron and former Clermont striker Franck Honorat were all on the scoresheet before Jim Allevinah netted a consolation strike in the closing stages, with the Lancers condemned to their fifth defeat of the campaign.

Nevertheless, Pascal Gastien will be pleased to see his side sitting ninth in the table, six places better off than last season, and they could yet head into the World Cup break inside the top five if they were to put together a three-game winning streak in the coming weeks.

Clermont tested Nantes on both occasions last season but failed to pick up any points, losing 2-1 on the road in October last year before suffering a 3-2 home defeat in April.

The Lancers last tasted victory against the Canaries back in May 2013, winning 1-0 at the Stade de la Beaujoire when both sides were competing in Ligue 2.

Nantes Ligue 1 form:

L

D

L

L

W

D

Nantes form (all competitions):

L

L

L

W

D

W

Clermont Ligue 1 form:

D

L

W

W

D

L

Team News

Goalkeeper Alban Lafont and winger Kader Bamba are both suspended following their red cards against Nice last weekend - either Remy Descamps or Denis Petric will replace Lafont between the sticks, while Moses Simon is expected to return on the left flank for Bamba.

Indeed, Simon could be one of a number of players who Kombouare recalls to his starting lineup following their midweek win over Qarabag, with defenders Dennis Appiah and Nicolas Pallois set to replace Sebastien Corchia and Jean-Charles Castelletto respectively.

Moussa Sissoko could also return at the expense of Evann Guessand, with Blas moving out to the right wing, while Ganago will be hoping to start up front ahead of Mostafa Mohamed after his goal in midweek.

As for Clermont, defender Alidu Seidu will sit Sunday's game out due to suspension, while Maxime Gonalons and Mehdi Zeffane are ruled out with respective thigh and calf injuries.

Florent Ogier is set to replace Seidu in the back three and Yohann Magnin could switch from the right flank to centre-midfield in the absence of Gonalons, playing alongside Johan Gastien in the middle of the pitch.

Magnin's potential switch of position could see Jeremie Bela recalled to the first XI - the winger returned to the matchday squad last weekend after missing the previous five matches due to injury.

Nantes possible starting lineup:

Lafont; Appiah, Pallios, Girotto, Merlin; Chirivella, Moutoussamy; Blas, Sissoko, Simon; Ganago

Clermont possible starting lineup:

Diaw; Ogier, Wieteska, Caufriez; Bela, Magnin, Gastien, Borges; Cham, Khaoui; Andric

We say: Nantes 3-2 Clermont

Considering both sides look threatening going forward but also leaky at the back, goals are to be expected on Sunday.

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