Ligue 1 | Gameweek 25

Mar 9, 2025 at 4.15pm UK

Stade de la Beaujoire - Louis Fonteneau

Nantes vs Strasbourg

Match preview

Liam Rosenior's side go into the game in good form, having lost just twice in their last 14 in all competitions.

Last time out, they secured an impressive 1-0 win away at Auxerre, becoming only the second side in the division to take three points from a visit to the Stade de l'Abbe-Deschamps this season.

It was also only their fourth away win of the campaign, something they will be hoping to improve on when they host Nantes this weekend.

Last weekend's win over Auxerre was also Strasbourg's fourth clean sheet in a row in the league, demonstrating their recent improvement as they have only kept seven clean sheets in Ligue 1 this season.

Strengthening the defence has clearly been a priority for the club, with the likes of Andrew Omobamidele and Valentin Barco arriving on loan during the winter transfer window, and recent results have shown that they have improved at the back.

As well as improving at the back, the visitors have also done well in front of goal this season, netting 38 times in 24 games, making them the seventh-best attacking team in the division.

Rosenior's side are getting hot at the right time and if they can repeat their 3-1 triumph over Nantes in October this weekend, it will keep the pressure on the teams above them to keep winning.

A brace from Andrey Santos and another from Dilane Bakwa secured the three points on the day, although a late consolation from Herba Guirassy denied goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic another clean sheet.

Meanwhile, Nantes face another tricky opponent this weekend, having lost 2-0 away to Marseille in Ligue 1 last time out.

With Marseille currently second in the table, it was not a game to be reckoned with, but they held out for 73 minutes before a quickfire double from Amine Gouiri and Mason Greenwood finally broke their resistance.

The defeat left Antoine Kombouare's side perilously close to the relegation zone in Ligue 1, as they sit just four points above Le Havre, who are two places below them in 16th.

With difficult fixtures in the coming weeks, including this match and a trip to Lille, the table could look very different when Nantes travel to Le Havre on 30 March.

Nantes will be hoping to improve on their home record this season, as only four teams in the division have performed worse in front of their own fans.

The hosts will be looking for just their fourth home win of the season, having won three, drawn four and lost four of their previous 11 home games.

However, they did win their last Ligue 1 home game, beating Lens 3-1 on 23 February, and will be hoping for another victory this weekend as they continue their fight against relegation.

Recent Performance

Nantes Ligue 1 form:DWLLWL

Strasbourg Ligue 1 form:WLWWDW

Strasbourg form (all competitions):LLWWDW

Team News

In a blow for the hosts, Fabien Centonze is expected to miss the game with a knee injury that has kept him out of the last two games.

Nicolas Cozza is back from suspension for Nantes, while Kelvin Amian has been suspended for this game due to an accumulation of bookings throughout the season.

Elsewhere, Nathan Zeze (ankle) and Adel Mahamoud (ACL) are out for the game, while Francis Coquelin (calf) and Tino Kadewere remain doubts for Les Canaris.

Meanwhile, Strasbourg's Loubadhe Abakar Sylla will not be available after being sent off in the closing stages of last weekend's win at Auxerre.

Bakwa, who scored in the reverse fixture against Nantes, is also suspended for this game due to accumulating yellow cards.

In other bad news for the visitors, Thomas Delaine is still nursing a knee injury and is unlikely to feature, while Alaa Bellaarouch (groin) and Moise Sahi Dion (Achilles) remain long-term absentees.

Habib Diarra is a doubt after being sent off against Auxerre last weekend, while January signing Omobamidele is out until the end of the month with an Achilles problem.

Possible starting lineup

Nantes possible starting lineup:

Lopes; Cozza, Pallois, Castelletto, Sow, Coco; Lepenant, Leroux, Chirivella, Simon; Abline

Strasbourg possible starting lineup:

Petrovic; Barco, Doukoure, Sarr, Doue; Lemarechal, Santos, Nanasi, Moreira; Emegha, Mara