Two sides searching for their first win of the Ligue 1 season will go head-to-head on Sunday when Clermont welcome Nantes to Stade Gabriel Montpied.
Clermont have taken just one point from their opening four games, while the visitors are just one point better off than their opponents.
Match preview
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After winning eight of their final 10 league games (D1, L1) of the 2022-23 campaign, Clermont would have entered the new season in a positive mood.
However, the confidence built from last season's run-in has quickly dissipated following a poor start to the 2023-24 campaign, which began with three consecutive defeats to Monaco, Reims and Metz.
Clermont looked set to fall to another defeat in their most recent outing with Toulouse after conceding two goals inside the opening 15 minutes, but they showcased great fight to claw their way back thanks to Grejohn Kyei's 34th-minute penalty and Florent Ogier's stoppage-time equaliser
Despite leaving Stadium de Toulouse with their first point of the season, Clermont entered the international break in the Ligue 1 relegation zone.
Having conceded nine goals across their opening four games, Les Lanciers will be targeting an improved defensive display on Sunday.
After surviving the drop by just one point last term, Nantes's hopes of avoiding another relegation battle have been dented by their early-season form.
They began the campaign with back-to-back defeats against Toulouse and Lille, before they got off the mark with a 3-3 draw against Monaco in a game where they established a two-goal lead on two occasions.
Pierre Aristouy, who was appointed Nantes boss in May, would have been content with his side's final performance before the international break, as they managed to hold Marseille to a 1-1 draw on home turf.
While the Nantes boss will be pleased with the fact that his side have avoided defeat in their last two games, he will be concerned that the club have won just one of their previous 19 league games.
Incidentally, the visitors have not won an away match in Ligue 1 since beating Ajaccio 2-0 on February 5, which represented one of the two away league victories that they recorded last season.
Team News
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Summer signing Maximiliano Caufriez will have to wait a little longer for his debut as he continues to recover from an ankle problem.
After joining the club on deadline day, Shamar Nicholson is expected to feature in the squad, although the Jamaica international may have to settle for a place on the bench.
Having dropped out of the side for the draw with Marseille, Jim Allevinah could be recalled to the starting lineup for Saturday's encounter.
As for the visitors, they are expected to be without the services of Alban Lafont, Fabien Centonze and Nathan Zeze, who are sidelined with injury issues.
The hosts are also unable to call upon Bastien Meupiyou, who is suspended after being sent off before the international break.
Having scored four goals this season, Mostafa Mohamed will look to continue his fine form when he starts up front against Clermont.
Clermont possible starting lineup:
Diaw; Seidu, Ogier, Pelmard; Zeffane, Gonalons, Gastien, Borges; Allevinah, Cham; Kyei
Nantes possible starting lineup:
Descamps; Pierre-Gabriel, Comert, Castelletto; Coco, Chirivella, Augusto, Merlin; Simon, Adson, Mohamed
We say: Clermont 1-1 Nantes
While both teams come into the contest with hopes of claiming their first win of the season, we think that the two struggling sides could produce a cagey contest, which we believe will result in the spoils being shared.
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