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

Nantes take on Lorient in Ligue 1 on Sunday in a potentially pivotal clash at the bottom of the table.

Seventeenth-placed Lorient currently sit one point above Nantes, meaning that the hosts can jump outside of the relegation zone with a victory.

Match preview

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Nantes' form has certainly improved since replacing former France manager Raymond Domenech with Antoine Kombouare in February, with the 57-year-old guiding his side to a miraculous 2-1 win at Paris Saint-Germain last weekend.

Julian Draxler had provided the hosts with the lead heading into the half-time interval after a fine sweeping finish into the far corner, but a combination of complacency and lethargy from PSG helped Nantes come from behind to claim a crucial three points.

Randal Kolo levelled the proceedings after Kylian Mbappe's sloppy pass inside allowed the forward to square up Marquinhos one-on-one before smashing the ball into the roof of the net, with Kolo racing in behind PSG's defence 12 minutes later before unselfishly squaring the ball for Moses Simon to tap home and prove to be the match winner on the day.

The shock result gives Nantes real optimism of escaping relegation this season, but they must replicate their intensity against a Lorient side who have improved of late themselves.

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Indeed, having been promoted as Ligue 2 champions last season, this campaign is all about survival for Lorient.

Sixteen points from their last 10 matches - including a fine win against PSG themselves - has given Christophe Pelissier's side an excellent chance of doing so, with Lorient fans desperate to see their club re-establish themselves as a Ligue 1 club once again, having spent 11 consecutive seasons in France's top flight between 2006 and 2017.

Having only lost two of their last 10 matches, Lorient are certainly proving tough to beat at the moment, drawing their last two matches 1-1. However, Pelissier may be mildly disappointed with only two points returned from those games, having comfortably out-shot both Montpellier and Nice.

The 55-year-old will be demanding his players to be more clinical ahead of a crucial six-pointer against Nantes, with victory potentially moving them four points clear of the relegation zone with only eight league games remaining.

Team News

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Nantes are unlikely to have Sebastien Corchia, Dennis Appiah or Fabio Da Silva return as options until after the impending international break, with the trio still recovering from injury.

Kombouare is unlikely to make any changes to the XI which performed superbly in their victory in Paris, with Simon, Kolo and Ludovic Blas forming a dangerous attacking triumvirate.

Lorient, meanwhile, remain without the suspended Paul Nardi after the goalkeeper's injury-time dismissal in the cup defeat to Le Puy F43 Auvergne.

Thomas Monconduit, Stephane Diarra, Jonathan Delaplace, Jeremy Morel, Thomas Fontaine, Matthieu Saunier and former Liverpool defender Tiago Ilori are all unlikely to return from injury until after the upcoming international break.

Nantes possible starting lineup:
Lafont; Castelletto, Girotto, Pallois; Coco, Chirivella, Toure, Traore; Blas, Kolo, Simon

Lorient possible starting lineup:
Dreyer; Gravillon, Laporte, Chalobah; Hergault, Le Fee, Abergel, Boisgard, Le Goff; Lauriente, Moffi

We say: Nantes 2-1 Lorient

Nantes should have taken huge confidence from their surprise win against the reigning champions, and we can envisage them jumping out of the relegation zone with a victory on Sunday.

They appear to have a little more firepower than Lorient at present, with Pelissier's side struggling to create clear-cut chances in recent weeks despite performing reasonably well on the whole.