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

Nantes travel to the Stade Gaston Gerard to face Dijon in the penultimate game of the Ligue 1 season aiming for a win to move out of the bottom three.

The hosts are rock-bottom of the league and are long confirmed to be playing in the second division next year, while the visitors currently occupy the relegation playoff position in 18th, one point away from safety.

Match preview

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Having been bottom of the league for most of the campaign, Dijon are confirmed to be playing in the French second tier next term for the first time since the 2015-16 season.

David Linares's side have only got their pride to play for now and will certainly want to put in a better performance this weekend following back-to-back 5-1 defeats to Rennes and Metz, prior to losing 3-0 to Angers last time out.

Those results came after a surprising 2-0 victory over Nice last month, with Fouad Chafik opening the scoring and Yassine Benzia sealing the game for Les Hiboux.

The win against Nice was the solitary time that Dijon have avoided a defeat in their last 16 Ligue 1 games, losing their other 15 in that run to leave them with only 18 points after 36 games.

If possible, things have only got worse since that victory too, and after three heavy defeats on the bounce Dijon are now in danger of conceding three or more goals in four consecutive Ligue 1 games for the first time in their history.

Ominously, opponents Nantes managed to score three goals in their last game due to strikes from Kalifa Coulibaly, Imran Louza and Randal Kolo at home to Bordeaux.

That comfortable victory has continued an impressive late run of form in Les Canaris' season, making it three wins in three, including a 4-1 victory in their last away game against Brest.

Antoine Kombouare's side had looked in great danger of automatic relegation but are now two points clear of 19th-placed Nimes and have the form to even push to avoid a play-off match with a second division team to decide their fate in the top flight.

A win on the weekend away to the bottom-of-the-league team will increase their chances of survival and will make it three away wins in a row, which would be the first time they have achieved that in Ligue 1 since September 2017, under Claudio Ranieri.

However, Dijon are unbeaten in their last three home games against the visitors, including a thrilling 3-3 draw in their last such game.

Team News

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To add to the home side's misery, they are without Anibal Chala and Wesley Lautoa for the remainder of the season due to calf muscle injuries, alongside Sacha Boey who is suffering from a knee injury.

Also, forward Roger Assale and Benzia are doubts going into this game due to a groin strain and thigh muscle strain respectively.

Summer signing Bersant Celina is once again ruled out of this game following his red card late on in the first half of the 5-1 defeat to Metz two weeks ago.

In comparison, the away side will be pleased that they have all players available which is a significant boost to their hopes of staying up with two games to go.

Defender Jean-Charles Castelletto will return from his one-game suspension this weekend and is likely to be the only change from the in-form team that won 3-0 last time out.

Dijon possible starting lineup:
Allagbe; Chafik, Manga, Panzo, Muzinga; Marie, Ndong; Dobre, Ebimbe, Chouiar; Balde

Nantes possible starting lineup:
Lafont; Corchia, Castelletto, Pallois, Appiah; Simon, Chirivella, Louza, Blas; Coulibaly, Kolo

We say: Dijon 0-2 Nantes

After 15 defeats in their last 16, it is hard to look past Dijon extending that awful record as they face a side who are fighting for survival going into the last two games.

Nantes will come into this game with great confidence on the back of three straight victories and will see this as a must-win if they want to stay in the top flight next year.