Angers – Nantes : Preview & Prediction
Having finished below ninth in each of the last six Ligue 1 seasons, Angers will be hoping to embark on an ambitious journey towards a top-five finish in the top flight for the first time since 1973/74. Recording a fourth consecutive opening day win this time around would mean psychological motivation for Angers, but the summer departure of five players who between them had more than 1,000 top-flight commitments with the club leaves a big void to fill.
You have to go back to September 2019 to find the last time Angers won three consecutive Ligue 1 home games, but a win in this one would see that long streak come to an end, albeit between two seasons. However, the dichotomous nature of their home form will keep fans on tenterhooks, as Angers earned 80% of their league points playing at home last season but also drew for the most home losses (nine).
In addition, facing Nantes increases Angers’ nerves as they are winless in the last four meetings between them in the top flight (E2, P2). Adding to Angers’ misery could be the perfect way for Nantes to begin Antoine Kombouaré’s 16th Ligue 1 season as coach, as the club looks to improve on last season’s ninth-place finish which saw them collect their highest points total since 2003/04 (55).
Improving that points total will require Nantes to drastically improve their away performance, having picked up just six league points in away action in 2022 – the second worst record in the whole of Ligue 1 behind only Angers. There is no guarantee that their performance on rival soil will improve on this opening day considering Nantes have not won their first game of a Ligue 1 season for five consecutive years – their longest such streak since 1971-1975.
Players to watch: Angers newcomer Adrien Hunou has opened the scoring with five of his last six goals, but has faced Nantes 10 times in Ligue 1 without scoring. In contrast, Ludovic Blas has nine contributions on goal in Ligue 1 (three goals, six assists) against Angers, which is a career-best record against a particular club, including a brace on his visit to this stadium last season.
Weekend stat: Angers have scored in each of their last eight league games against Nantes, having a better run than this in the 1960s.
Angers – Nantes : Betting Tips
Angers – Win Odds: 2.25
