Nantes vs Angers Preview
As Nantes vs Angers preview is online, they are about to clash on ligue 1 premises at La Beaujoire Louis Fonteneau on Saturday evening.
It is a straight shootout between Nantes and Auxerre, and despite being two points adrift, the Canaries are the favourites to stay up.
That is thanks to them facing the whipping boys of Ligue 1 this season, while Auxerre have a tricky test against second-placed Lens.
A Antoine Kombouare‘s side win combined with Auxerre failing to win will see them stay up thanks to their superior goal difference.
However, winning is something Nantes have not done much of this season, having not tasted victory in any of their last 14 matches.
With four teams being relegated this season instead of three, it is apt that the worst-performing 17th-placed side in French top-flight history could be the ones to go down, as the league transforms into an 18-team division next season.
Nantes’ six wins this season is the lowest tally of any side placed outside the bottom three in the league’s history, and it is a record low for the club.
It has been a rapid fall from grace for Nantes who were in Europe this season after winning the Coupe de France last season. As the final round of the ligue 1 is online, match preview for PSG and Clermont can be views on Uksports
They could become the third side in the 21st century to be relegated despite starting the season as a domestic cup holder, after Strasbourg in 2006 and Guingamp, who were relegated from Ligue 2, in 2010.
Despite Angers’ difficulties this season, Nantes have not enjoyed much success against them in recent years, winning just two of the last nine encounters.
They are also winless in the last four home games against their upcoming opponents despite usually having a great record, after initially winning 18 of their first 19 league meetings with Angers here.
It has been a rotten season for Angers, but it is ending with something of a flourish, so much so that caretaker manager Alexandre Dujeux has signed a two-deal to stay on with the club in Ligue 2.
Team news and Injury
Nantes will have much of their squad available for this crucial encounter on the final day.
Evann Guessand is expected to miss out after missing the last two, while backup full-back Sebastien Corchia is also sidelined.
Ludovic Blas is expected to be the difference maker for Nantes, after contributing to 11 goals already this season from the right of midfield.
Angers have been handicapped by a lengthy injury list all season, and they remain without a few first-team players for the season finale.
Nabil Bentaleb has missed the last two games and will not feature, along with Faouzi Ghoulam, Souleyman Doumbia and Amine Salama, who have all been absent for extended periods.
Ousmane Camara has already returned after France’s very early exit from the Under-20s World Cup, but it is unclear whether he will be involved here.
Head-to-head stats
The meeting between the two Western French teams is sometimes referred to as Derby de l’ouest or Derby of the West. They have met 63 times in all competitions since 1963. The hosts have the better record with 35 wins while Angers have 11 wins to their name and 17 games have ended in draws.
The last three meetings between the two teams have ended in draws, though the hosts came out on top on penalties in the Coupe de France in February.
The visitors have just one win in their travels this season.
The hosts are winless in their last seven home games in Ligue 1, failing to score in four games in that period.
Prediction
Nantes have not looked like a side capable of avoiding the drop in recent weeks, and with their manager questioning the attitude of the players, relegation could be confirmed here.
Angers have shown fight recently despite a woeful season, and manager Dujeux will hope to take some confidence into the next campaign by going three games unbeaten for the first time all season.
