Ligue 1 | Gameweek 23

Feb 23, 2025 at 2pm UK

Stade de la Beaujoire - Louis Fonteneau

Nantes vs Lens

Match preview

Since finishing ninth in 2021-22, Nantes have flirted with relegation from Ligue 1 in subsequent years, finishing 16th in 2022-23 and 14th in 2023-24.

The Canaries are fighting the drop again this term and currently sit 15th in the table with 21 points from 22 games, having won four, drawn nine and lost nine.

They are just three points clear of Saint-Etienne in 16th and four points clear of Le Havre in 17th.

Antoine Kombouare, in charge since March 2024, guided the side to two wins, five draws and just one defeat in Ligue 1 between November and January, lifting them out of the relegation zone.

However, their last two outings have seen them revert to their early-season form, losing 2-0 to Brest before suffering a humiliating 7-1 defeat at the hands of Monaco.

Kombouare will be hoping his side can bounce back from that defeat, but they face another tough test when European chasers Lens travel to the STADIUM.

Lens secured their return to the top flight for the first time since their relegation in 2014-15 by finishing second in Ligue 2 in 2019-20, and they have impressed in the top flight ever since.

The Blood and Gold have finished seventh in three of the four seasons since their return to Ligue 1, in 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2023-24, with an anomalous second place in 2022-23 when they narrowly missed out on the title by one point.

Lens are once again aiming to finish seventh or higher in Ligue 1 this season in their bid to qualify for next season's European competitions, and they are certainly in contention.

Will Still's side are eighth in the table after 22 games with 33 points from nine wins, six draws and seven defeats, just three points behind sixth-placed Lyon.

However, they have lost each of their last two games, going down 2-0 to Nice and Strasbourg respectively, and Still will be desperate for his side to bounce back with a win.

Recent Performance

Nantes Ligue 1 form:DDDWLL

Nantes form (all competitions):LDDWLL

Lens Ligue 1 form:WLWWLL

Team News

Nantes will be without Francis Coquelin (muscle), Nathan Zeze (ankle) and Tino Kadewere (muscle) due to injury.

Pedro Chirivella is suspended for the Canaries after accumulating 10 yellow cards in the league, while Nicolas Cozza is also suspended after receiving a red card in the 7-1 defeat at Monaco.

Lens are without Denis Petric (back), Jhoanner Chavez (ankle), Martin Satriano (cruciate ligament), Matthew Ryan (hip) and Remy Lascary through injury.

Deiver Machado and Hamzat Ojediran are both suspended for the game, but Facundo Medina could return from suspension to partner Malang Sarr at the heart of the defence.

Possible starting lineup

Nantes possible starting lineup:

Lopes; Coco, Sow, Pallois, Amian; Augusto, Lepenant, Leroux; Abline, Simon; Mohamed

Lens possible starting lineup:

Koffi; Gradit, Medina, Sarr, Aguilar; Diouf, Aynaoui; Sotoca, Thomasson, Fulgini; Nzola