Strasbourg – Nantes : Preview & Prediction
Strasbourg once again paid for a poor start in their 1-0 home loss to Lens last weekend, conceding the game’s only goal in the 16th minute. Coach Patrick Vieira expressed his “frustration” that his team did not “return at halftime with a draw,” especially considering that the Blue and Whites are one of two Ligue 1 teams yet to score before the break.
This inability to make an early impact in games is affecting the German shepherd club’s consistency, as each of their seven top-flight results this season differed from the previous match (G3, E1, P3). They will hope that is a trend that continues here after defeat last time out, and despite the home side having won just three of their previous nine home meetings against Nantes (E1, P5), they can take comfort from the fact that they have not suffered back-to-back league defeats at home since October 2022.
Unlike Strasbourg, Nantes managed to score in the first half of their 3-1 Derby de l’Ouest loss to Rennes on Sunday, but what ended up hurting them was a matter of discipline. Not only did the “Canaries” commit two penalties, but the red card received by Mostafa Mohamed means that coach Pierre Aristouy will have to do without his top scorer for the match (five goals).
Sitting two points behind Strasbourg before this round, Nantes have won just one of their previous ten away league games (E2, P7), but would still overtake their opponents should they win this clash. It is unlikely to be an easy feat to achieve, with Aristouy’s men failing to win their last eight Ligue 1 away games played on a Friday (E3, P5), including a 2-1 defeat at this very venue in 2019.
Players to watch: Strasbourg will be hoping Habib Diarra can score, as the young striker helped his side to wins in three of their previous four games in which he scored goals (E1). Florent Mollet could steal the spotlight, as in six appearances so far he has already matched his number of goal contributions for Nantes in Ligue 1 last season (G1, A2).
Standout stat: Nantes have won just two of 19 away league games in which they started as “underdogs” since the start of last season (E5, P12).
Strasbourg – Nantes : Betting Tips
Strasbourg – Win Odds: 2.25
