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

The hosts have lost each of their opening two games, while the visitors find themselves atop the table after securing back-to-back wins.

Match preview

After escaping relegation by the skin of their teeth last season - finishing a solitary point outside the drop zone - Nantes would have been eager to hit the ground running in 2023-24, but they appear to have picked up where they left off.

La Maison Jaune snatched defeat from the jaws of victory on the opening weekend of the new campaign, conceding two goals in the final 30 minutes to suffer a 2-1 defeat against Toulouse on home soil, with Mostafa Mohamed's first-half penalty ultimately counting for nothing.

Desperate to make amends, Nantes travelled to Lille last weekend, but Pierre Aristouy's men ended up enduring another defeat as Les Dogues claimed a 2-0 victory at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, rubbing salt into the Canaries' wounds.

To make matters worse for Nantes, they racked up 14 shots without scoring last time out, and they also played against 10 men for a sizeable portion of the second half following Alexsandro's red card, with Jonathan David and Adam Ounas

grabbing the goals.

Having won just five of their 19 home league games last season - recording eight draws and six losses along the way - the Pays de la Loire outfit could struggle to kick-start their campaign against high-flying Monaco on Friday.

By contrast, Monaco could not have wished for a better start to the season as they sit at the summit of the standings ahead of the third round of fixtures, having made light work of their first two opponents.

The Monegasques kicked off their campaign with a 4-2 victory at Clermont on the opening weekend, thanks largely to a brace from key forward Wissam Ben-Yedder, who has now scored 101 goals in 169 appearances for the Red and Whites since arriving from Sevilla in 2019.

Ben-Yedder put his name on the scoresheet once again as Monaco cruised to a comfortable 3-0 home win against Strasbourg last time out, although former Liverpool man Takumi Minamino grabbed the headlines by netting a first-half double.

Not only did Adi Hutter's men enjoy the lion's share of possession against Strasbourg, but they also created multiple goalscoring opportunities, limiting their visitors to a solitary attempt on target throughout the contest.

After finishing the previous campaign with the third-best away record in Ligue 1 - recording 10 wins, five draws and four losses on the road last term - Monaco will be confident of extending their winning streak at the Stade de la Beaujoire.

Nantes Ligue 1 form:

Nantes form (all competitions):

Monaco Ligue 1 form:

Monaco form (all competitions):

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Team News

Nantes goalkeeper Alban Lafont remains sidelined due to a broken rib, meaning that Remy Descamps will continue between the sticks for the hosts.

With defender Fabien Centonze and forward Ignatius Ganago joining Lafont on Nantes' injury list, Pierre Aristouy will have some decisions to make when it comes to choosing his starting XI.

After scoring on the opening weekend, Mostafa Mohamed will continue to lead the line in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Florent Mollet and Moses Simon likely to operate behind the striker.

Monaco also have a number of injury absentees, with key forward Breel Embolo, new signing Mohammed Salisu and teenage midfielder Edan Diop on the treatment table.

Adi Hutter will be reluctant to change his winning side and will likely match Nantes' 3-4-2-1 formation, meaning that Vanderson and Caio Henrique will continue to occupy the wing-back roles.

In-form attackers Wissam Ben-Yedder and Takumi Minamino will be joined by Aleksandr Golovin at the top end of the pitch, while Youssouf Fofana and Mohamed Camara look set to anchor the midfield.

Nantes possible starting lineup:

Deschamps; Pierre-Gabriel, Castelletto, Pallois; Coco, Chirivella, Augusto, Merlin; Mollet, Simon; Mohamed

Monaco possible starting lineup:

Kohn; Singo, Zakaria, Magassa; Vanderson, Fofana, Camara, Henrique; Takumi, Golovin; Ben-Yedder

We say: Nantes 0-2 Monaco

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