Striving to extend their winning run across all competitions to four matches, Lyon will welcome an out-of-form Nantes side to Groupama Stadium on Sunday afternoon for a Ligue 1 contest.
Les Gones were convincing winners in the Europa League on Thursday night, whilst Les Canaris have enjoyed a full week to prepare for their trip to Decines-Charpieu.
Match preview
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Separate from their struggles on the domestic scene so far during the 2024-25 campaign, Lyon have made an exceptional start to their quest for Europa League glory, with Sunday afternoon's hosts winning back-to-back matches against Greek powerhouses Olympiacos and Scottish giants Rangers.
Taking their chance in the starting XI with both hands at Ibrox, former Arsenal marksman Alexandre Lacazette and youngster Malick Fofana both hit doubles for Les Gones as they recorded a 4-1 success over the Gers, meaning that the French side currently sit second in the 36-team rankings.
Following a worrying run of just one win in their first five competitive matches of the campaign, Lyon are aiming to make it four straight victories at Groupama Stadium on Sunday versus Nantes, who are four places above Pierre Sage's troops in the Ligue 1 standings at this stage.
Les Gones showcased their considerable powers of recovery during their most recent Ligue 1 clash on September 29, when a last-gasp strike from Belgium Under-21 international Fofana snatched maximum points from the hands of Carles Martinez's Toulouse at Stadium de Toulouse.
Aiming to compete for a Champions League spot this season against the likes of Marseille and Monaco, Lyon made sure to strengthen significantly in attacking areas over the course of the summer transfer window, recruiting Wilfried Zaha and Georges Mikautadze from Galatasaray and Metz respectively.
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Following a three-game unbeaten run which yielded seven points at the start of the 2024-25 schedule, Nantes' powers have begun to wane as the October international break approaches, with Sunday's visitors to Groupama Stadium collecting just two points from their last three fixtures.
Les Canaris have been frustratingly forced to share the spoils with the bottom two sides in the division over the past fortnight, drawing 1-1 at the home of Angers on September 22 before playing out a four-goal thriller against basement dwellers Saint-Etienne at Stade de la Beaujoire last weekend.
Netting his side's second of the match last time out, Wales international Sorba Thomas scored his first goal for Nantes since making the loan switch from League One outfit Huddersfield Town over the summer, with the 25-year-old known for his excellent deliveries from the flanks.
After a winless September in Ligue 1, Les Canaris have dropped down to seventh place in the top-flight rankings, two points behind Reims in the lowest of the Champions League spots and five points clear of 16th-placed Montpellier HSC, who are flirting with relegation at this early stage.
Rather unsurprisingly considering the stature of both clubs, Nantes have only won one of their last 10 competitive meetings with Lyon across Ligue 1 and Coupe de France, with Les Canaris' most recent victory at Groupama Stadium arriving back in September 2019 courtesy of a Fernando Marcal own goal.
Team News
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Failing to make the matchday squad for the Europa League success at Rangers, Warmed Omari and Tanner Tessman will be hoping to be involved for Lyon on Sunday.
Providing two assists at Ibrox on Thursday night, Rayan Cherki is putting a failed summer move to the Premier League behind him and could start once again this weekend.
Dismissed in the closing stages of the draw with Saint-Etienne last time out, right-back Marcus Regis Coco is suspended for Nantes on Sunday.
Jean-Charles Castelletto has spent the week training with the reserves following a falling out with manager Antoine Kombouare, meaning that the centre-back will play no part this weekend.
Nantes have a long-term absentee in the form of defender Fabien Centonze, who is expected to be sidelined until April due to a cruciate ligament injury.
Lyon possible starting lineup:
Perri; Maitland-Niles, Niakhate, Caleta-Car, Tagliafico; Tolisso, Caqueret, Veretout; Cherki, Fofana, Lacazette
Nantes possible starting lineup:
Lafont; Amian, Pallios, Zeze, Cozza; Augusto, Chirivella; Thomas, Lepanant, Simon; Abline
We say: Lyon 2-0 Nantes
Putting four past Rangers on Thursday night, Lyon will come into this weekend's clash full of confidence and expecting to collect maximum points.
Nantes have struggled against two relegation candidates over the past fortnight, so we cannot envisage a positive result for Les Canaris at Groupama Stadium on Sunday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
