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

Nice will seek to keep their revival under Christophe Galtier going when they travel to the Stade de la Beaujoire to take on Nantes on Sunday afternoon.

Les Canaris went down 1-0 to Lyon just before the international break, while Nice put four unanswered goals past Bordeaux to continue their impressive start to the season.

Match preview

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The cracks have started to appear in a seemingly unbeatable Nantes from the back end of the 2020-21 season, with Antoine Kombouare's side suffering their second consecutive 1-0 defeat of the campaign as Lyon came up trumps in gameweek four.

On a day where Les Canaris just could not find a way past the impenetrable wall that was Anthony Lopes, Lyon forward Moussa Dembele struck the game's only goal with 35 minutes on the clock, and Nantes were unable to claw their way back into the game despite having a man advantage for the final 10 minutes.

However, four points from two clashes with Monaco and Metz have made defeats to Rennes and Lyon far more manageable for Nantes, who sit 12th in the rankings as things stand but now face two challenging tests against Nice and early high-flyers Angers.

Owing to their dismal home form in the 2020-21 season, Nantes are only able to boast two wins from their last 18 Ligue 1 matches at the Stade de la Beaujoire, but their opponents may have been more concerned with matters off the pitch rather than on it this week.

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Behind-closed-doors fixtures are not a thing of the past just yet for Nice, who were forced to take on Bordeaux with no crowd present due to the despicable actions of some supporters in their abandoned fixture with Marseille, which will also be replayed in an empty stadium.

However, Galtier's crop simply focused on the task at hand against Bordeaux and stormed to a 4-0 success against the troubled Girondins, with Amine Gouiri netting a brace while Justin Kluivert and Khephren Thuram also got in on the act.

With the 2020-21 title-winning coach in control of the reins, Nice have been simply unplayable since the start of the season, but they have been docked two points - one of which is suspended - after the farcical scenes on August 22 and have already been presented with an extra challenge to overcome during their European charge.

However, with their previous fixture against Marseille no longer counting for anything, Nice are technically still the only side in the division yet to concede a goal this term and travel to Nantes seeking a third away win on the trot in Ligue 1.

Les Aiglons scraped a 2-1 win on Nantes turf when the sides met last season, and this week's visitors have lost just one of their last nine league encounters with Les Canaris, although that was as recently as October 2019.

Team News

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Nantes defender Dennis Appiah had to be withdrawn against Lyon due to a muscular problem and is set to miss out here, while Monaco loanee Willem Geubbels is also expected to remain sidelined with a similar issue.

On a more positive note, Wylan Cyprien and Kalifa Coulibaly have fully recovered from injuries and could play a part at the weekend, while Randal Kolo Muani is over a calf problem.

The 22-year-old was only fit enough to appear as a substitute against Lyon but should be fine to feature from the off here, meaning that Marcus Coco's spot may be at risk.

Meanwhile, Nice attacker Kluivert was forced off after 36 minutes against Bordeaux having already claimed a goal and assist, while Jordan Lotomba is banned for an accumulation of yellow cards.

Youcef Atal is still touch-and-go with a thigh issue, but Galtier will hope to have the right-back fit to replace the suspended Lotomba, while Kluivert is not due to return to training until next week.

New arrival Calvin Stengs should be handed an opportunity on the left in Kluivert's absence, while Kasper Dolberg did not feature against Bordeaux but should be fine to partner Gouiri here.

Nantes possible starting lineup:
Lafont; Corchia, Castelletto, Pallois, Fabio; Chirivella, Girotto; Bukari, Blas, Simon; Kolo Muani

Nice possible starting lineup:
Benitez; Atal, Todibo, Dante, Bard; Boudaoui, Lemina, Rosario, Stengs; Dolberg, Gouiri

We say: Nantes 0-2 Nice

While Nice's disciplinary matters may have dominated the talk of the past week, Galtier's side are doing their talking on the pitch and remain in terrific shape heading into Sunday's battle.

Kombouare's Nantes were arguably unfortunate not to take something from their clash with Lyon, and we expect a similar story here as Les Aiglons cruise to another win and clean sheet.