Ligue 1 | Gameweek 32

May 4, 2025 at 2pm UK

Stade de la Beaujoire - Louis Fonteneau

Nantes vs Angers

Match preview

Aside from an anomalous ninth-place finish in 2021-22, Nantes have consistently fought relegation from Ligue 1 over the past four seasons, finishing 18th in 2020-21, 16th in 2022-23 and 14th in 2023-24.

Antoine Kombouare, who was appointed for a second spell at the club in March 2023, successfully saved Nantes from relegation last season, but the Canaries are once again fighting for survival this term.

With seven wins, 11 draws and 13 defeats to their name, Nantes are 14th in the Ligue 1 standings with 32 points from 31 matches, four points above the relegation zone with three games remaining.

That means Kombouare's men can confirm their Ligue 1 survival if they take all three points on Sunday and Le Havre fall to defeat against Auxerre, and Nantes have every reason to be confident given their recent record in this fixture.

The Canaries have avoided defeat at the hands of Angers in each of the last nine meetings, recording five wins and four draws, including victories in the last two encounters at the Stade de la Beaujoire.

Angers also go into the clash in poor form, with Alexandre Dujeux's men having won just one of their last 10 games in all competitions, losing eight.

That poor run has seen Angers drop from 11th to 15th in the standings, leaving them just two points above the relegation zone with three games remaining.

Sunday's game could be crucial if Angers are to confirm their safety in the top flight, with tough games against seventh-placed Strasbourg and fifth-placed Lyon on the horizon and Dujeux desperate for all three points.

If they are to pick up any points, Angers will have to improve on their recent form, having scored just three goals in their last eight matches.

Recent Performance

Nantes Ligue 1 form:WLWLDD

Angers Ligue 1 form:LLLWLL

Team News

The hosts will be without Saidou Sow for the rest of the season due to a cruciate ligament injury, while Francis Coquelin is out until the end of the month with a hamstring problem.

Marcus Coco and Douglas Augusto are both unavailable for selection, the former serving the final game of a three-match ban for a red card and the latter suspended for accumulating yellow cards.

Moses Simon has been Nantes' standout performer this season, with seven goals and nine assists in the league, and the Nigerian should be back in attack.

The visitors will be without Sidiki Cherif, Haris Belkebla, Pierrick Capelle, Ahmadou Bamba Dieng, Jean-Eudes Aholou, Emmanuel Biumla and Cedric Hountondji through injury.

Esteban Lepaul has been Angers' main source of goals in the league this term, with seven in 25 appearances, and they will be relying on the striker to make the difference.

Possible starting lineup

Nantes possible starting lineup:

Lopes; Amian, Castelletto, Zeze, Pallois, Cozza; Lepenant, Chirivella, Leroux; Abline, Simon

Angers possible starting lineup:

Fofana; Arcus, Bamba, Lefort, Hanin; Belkhdim, Khaled; El Melali, Abdelli, Allevinah; Lepaul