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

Nice and Nantes will both be aiming to record their first victory of the season since gameweek two when they meet at the Allianz Riviera for Saturday's Ligue 1 clash.

Nice held Bordeaux to a goalless stalemate last time out, whereas Nantes fell to defeat against high-flying Lille last Friday.

Match preview

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Bordeaux have become renowned for their resolute defending in the early stages of the 2020-21 campaign, and Nice became the fourth side to fail to break Les Girondins down on Sunday.

There were no goals to be had at the Stade Matmut Atlantique as Patrick Vieira 's men recorded their first draw of the season, and Nice are now winless in three since their 2-0 victory over Strasbourg last month.

Les Aiglons were hit by a coronavirus outbreak a couple of weeks ago, which saw a number of players recently ruled out of action, but Vieira will be hoping to arrest Nice's slump as more of his men return to fitness in the next few weeks.

Nice face testing fixtures against Saint-Etienne and Lille before October ends - two sides who currently occupy spots in the top four - so Vieira's men will know that a victory against Nantes is vitally important if they are to come back with a renewed sense of confidence after the international break.

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Meanwhile, Nantes were facing an uphill battle to come away from their trip to Lille with something to show for it, and Christian Gourcuff 's side ultimately came up second best against the high-flyers.

Burak Yilmaz and an own goal from captain Nicolas Pallois condemned Nantes to their second defeat in three matches, and as is the case with Nice, Gourcuff's side have not triumphed in a match since the second weekend of the season - where they beat Brest 2-1.

That victory remains Nantes's only win of the season thus far, and while Les Canaris did well to stop Saint-Etienne in their tracks a couple of weeks ago, draws must be converted into wins if Gourcuff's men are to push for a top-half finish.

Nantes did manage to record a 1-0 triumph against Nice in the only meeting between the two sides last season, which was their first victory against Les Aiglons since the 2015-16 campaign.

Nice Ligue 1 form: WWLLD

Nantes Ligue 1 form: DWLDL

Team News

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Kasper Dolberg, Alexis Claude-Maurice and Stanley Nsoki all tested positive for coronavirus last month, but it was only the latter who was not involved against Bordeaux, and Nsoki is still a doubt for this one.

Youcef Atal is expected to remain on the treatment table until the end of October with a hamstring injury, although Robson Bambu and Hichem Boudaoui are nearing a return to action.

Vieira may switch back to his favoured 4-3-3 for the visit of Nantes, which would allow Claude-Maurice to come in on the left with Rony Lopes occupying the right flank.

With regards to the visitors, Kalifa Coulibaly is back in training after a lengthy layoff, but the striker is not expected to be risked yet.

Gourcuff confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Anthony Limbombe is not training with the group just yet.

Mehdi Abeid will be pushing for a start in the middle of the park alongside Pedro Chirivella after replacing Imran Louza in the loss to Lille.

Nice possible starting lineup:

Benitez; Lotomba, Pelmard, Dante, Kamara; Melou, Schneiderlin, Trouillet; Lopes, Dolberg, Claude-Maurice

Nantes possible starting lineup:

Lafont; Appiah, Girotto, Pallois, Fabio; Chirivella, Abeid; Coco, Blas, Simon; Kolo Muani

We say: Nice 2-1 Nantes

Neither side have covered themselves in glory over the past few weeks but will both be determined to pick up all three points before the international break. Nice and Nantes each have a number of absentees to contend with, and this one could go either way, but we think Vieira's men will do enough to scrape a narrow victory.

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