Ligue 1 | Gameweek 26

Mar 15, 2025 at 4pm UK

Stade de la Beaujoire - Louis Fonteneau

Nantes vs Lille

Match preview

It was a familiar story for Lille on Wednesday night as they were knocked out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage once again.

Les Dogues have been knocked out on each of their three previous occasions in the competition, and despite being the favourites going into the game and leading at the break, Genesio's side were undone by a BVB fightback and a controversial penalty decision that went against them.

While Champions League football was never a realistic possibility, the defeat means that Lille must now ensure they finish in the top four this season if they are to return to Europe's elite competition.

Fortunately for Genesio, his side have recovered from a mid-season slump to boost their chances of another top-four finish.

Lille have now won three of their last four Ligue 1 games, as many as they managed in their previous nine outings, and leaders Paris Saint-Germain have been the only team capable of stopping them during this mini-run.

Victories over in-form Rennes and top-four rivals Monaco preceded a routine 1-0 win over bottom side Montpellier last weekend to keep LOSC within touching distance of the Champions League places.

The visitors start the weekend in fifth, but only goal difference separates them from Monaco, while third-placed Nice are also within touching distance, just two points behind.

Next up is a team Lille have an excellent record against, having beaten no other Ligue 1 side in the 21st century as often as Nantes - 23 times in 38 matches.

The hosts are currently on an 18-match winless run against Les Dogues, but they did hold them to a 1-1 draw at the Pierre-Mauroy earlier this season, giving them the chance to go unbeaten against Lille in a single season for the first time since 2006-07, when both meetings ended in a draw.

Nantes will be hoping that their defence is rock solid, however, as their attack has been a weakness of late, with both of their last two league games - against Marseille and then Strasbourg last time out - ending in goalless draws.

The Canaries have not gone three games without scoring since Antoine Kombouare took charge in 2021, but he has been under pressure since returning to the club.

Last weekend's defeat to Strasbourg means Nantes are once again in the sights of the bottom three, with 16th-placed Le Havre just three points behind them.

Familiarity is no consolation, either, as of all the teams to have played in Ligue 1 since the start of last season, none have taken as few points at home as Nantes (25 from 87).

Recent Performance

Nantes Ligue 1 form:WLLWLL

Lille Ligue 1 form:WLWWLW

Lille form (all competitions):WWLDWL

Team News

No sooner had Francis Coquelin returned to fitness to break into the Nantes side following his January move than he was forced to miss the defeat to Strasbourg with a calf problem.

Fellow midfielder Douglas Augusto is also struggling with a knock picked up last weekend and joins Tino Kadewere and Nathan Zeze on the treatment table, while Alban Lafont and Fabien Centonze are also out.

Kelvin Amian was one of the better performers for Nantes in their loss to Strasbourg, but he will miss this one after reaching the yellow card limit, which means a one-match ban.

Lille's Jonathan David is returning to form ahead of a possible summer exit after netting against Dortmund on Wednesday to take his tally for the season to 33, and he will be looking to score for the third consecutive Ligue 1 game.

David's partner-in-crime, Edon Zhegrova, is also set to leave this summer, but the Kosovan winger remains sidelined with a groin injury that has kept him out for the past three months.

Fortunately, Genesio welcomed Osame Sahraoui back from injury in midweek, while Ethan Mbappe is also available after a recent setback, but Samuel Umtiti and Tiago Santos remain out at the back.

Possible starting lineup

Nantes possible starting lineup:

Lopes; Coco, Castelletto, Pallois, Leroux; Thomas, Lepenant, Pedro Chirivella, Simon; Abline, Mohamed

Lille possible starting lineup:

Chevalier; Meunier, Diakite, Alexsandro, Gudmundsson; Andre Gomes, Andre, Angel Gomes; Cabella, David, Haraldsson