Nantes played hosts to AS Monaco in Ligue 1 on Sunday night with the chance to move above their opponents in the table.
A win for Les Canaris would move them above the Ligue 2 champions on goal difference and into third place, while Monaco could move closer to the top two should they have emerged victorious to close the gap on Paris Saint-Germain and Lille.
However, Monaco picked up their first win since October at La Beaujoire.
Read how it all unfolded in our live commentary below.
Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage from Ligue 1 where Nantes host AS Monaco at La Beaujoire.
This should be a superb clash between two of the division's highflyers. Having both earned promotion from Ligue 2 last season to return to the top flight, Nantes and Monaco have earned many plaudits for their respective starts to the campaign.
Nantes currently occupy fifth in the table, but can move above third-placed Monaco on goal difference should they win tonight.
Monaco sit third in Ligue 1 and can move to within a point of second-placed Lille with a win, and would be just five points behind champions Paris Saint-Germain.
More to their current form in a moment, but first, let's bring you the team news.
NANTES XI: Riou, Cissokho, Vizcarrondo, Cichero, Veigneau, Toure, Deaux, Gakpe, Veretout, Bessat, Djordjevic
Michel Der Zakarian makes three changes to the team that beat Bordeaux last time out.
Chaker Alhadhur, Papy Djilobodji and Alejandro Bedoya all drop out of the team, while Gabriel Cichero, Olivier Veigneau and Serge Gakpe come in.
And now for Monaco.
AS MONACO XI: Subasic, Raggi, Kurzawa, Carvalho, Abidal, Toulalan, Obbadi, Moutinho, Rodriguez, Riviere, Falcao
Claudio Ranieri has also opted to make three changes to his starting lineup following their draw with Evian in their last match.
Fabinho, Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco and Lucas Ocampos all lose their places, with Andrea Raggi, Mounir Obbadi and Emmanuel Riviere replacing them.
Monaco will be desperate for a win given that their without one in their last three games, and are slowly falling further behind league leaders PSG.
The two teams are out at La Beaujoire and we're ready to go.
KICKOFF! Monaco get the game underway.
Nantes, wearing their all-yellow home strip, are playing from right to left.
Monaco, sporting their red and white halved first kit with white shorts and socks, are playing to the left.
No chances so far at La Beaujoire, Monaco are edging possession at the moment.
Ranieri has reverted back to the 4-4-2 system that he deployed at the start of the season, which sees Riviere get his place back in the side next to Radamel Falcao. The duo scored the opening 13 goals of Monaco's campaign between them.
Nantes have a corner on the right but it comes to nothing. Not a lot to report on at the moment.
Nearly a chance for Monaco as Riou punches a cross straight to Falcao, but the striker is let down by his poor first touch. Riou comes and fists a second ball into the box away, which caught Riviere in the process.
Veretout hits a volley from all of 40 yards which sails wide. He had a lot more time and space to do something a little more productive with it.
Good goalkeeping from Riou as Falcao is played through on goal. The keeper quickly rushes off his line and dives at the feet of the striker, taking the ball and sending Falcao flying in one move.
Still not a huge amount of action as we surpass the midway stage of this first half. Monaco have been on top slightly, but haven't had any clear chances. Riou has been kept busy though.
Nantes starting to come back into the game now with a bit more attacking possession. Subasic has had practically nothing to do though so far.
SAVE! First real save that either keeper has had to make as a low cross from the right is met with a back flick from Riviere. Riou is able to make the block though.
Falcao gets chopped down by Veigneau, who himself gets a whack on the head.
YELLOW CARD Jeremy Toulalan goes into the book for a late challenge on Cissokho.
Monaco are starting to take control with just a few minutes until the break. They have only scored one goal in their last four games, so now would be a great time to add to that.
YELLOW CARD Cichero goes into the book for a bad tackle on the touchline.
HALF TIME: Nantes 0-0 AS Monaco
Well. That's the first half, and not a lot happened. We expected goals but neither side has come close.
Given that this game features Radamel Falcao and Filip Djordjevic, two of Ligue 1's most prolific strikers, it is quite surprising that we have had such a lack of chances.
The players are making their way back out at La Beaujoire. Let's hope that this half is better than the last.
KICKOFF! The second half is up and running.
CHANCE! Huge opportunity for Monaco to take the lead. Falcao works his way to the left in the box, drawing out Riou. He then slips the ball towards the far post for a Riviere tap in, but Cissokho races to the rescue and smashes the ball away.
This half has started much better, it's end to end at the moment.
Falcao stings the palms of Riou from range, but the keeper can claim the ball the second time around.
CHANCE! Big miss from Falcao. Monaco work the ball to Riviere on the edge of the D, who creates some space with a nice shuffle. He lays the ball off to Falcao to his right, who goes for power, but slices the ball wide first time.
Monaco are on top right now. Nantes have had little to offer in the way of attacks in this match.
First venture forward for Nantes, and Veigneau has a go from just outside the box. The centre-back hits a side-foot effort, but it's straight at Subasic.
Falcao squanders another good chance. I'm not sure if this actually is Falcao up front for Monaco but he looks very similar.
Raggi stings the palms Riou with a shot after cutting in from the right.
MONACO CHANGE And on that note, off comes Radamel Falcao. He has been far from his best tonight, and he makes way for Anthony Martial.
Falcao didn't seem to believe that he had actually been taken off. He shielded his eyes at first to see if that actually was his number of the fourth official's board. He seems annoyed but hasn't made a huge deal about it.
NANTES CHANGE Vincent Bessat is on for Nantes, with Bedoya heading off.
CHANCE! First sniff of goal for Djordjevic. The ball is swung into a busy penalty area from the left, but the Serb heads over from the edge of the six-yard box.
GOAL! Nantes 0-1 AS Monaco (Mounir Obbadi)
At last! A goal! And it's been scored by Monaco. Martial and Riviere combine to force a save from Riou. The ball then falls to Obbadi 25 yards out, and he lashes an effort which takes a deflection and flies into the back of the net.
You have to say that Monaco deserve this lead. They've created far more chances and looked more threatening. Can they now hold on to their lead?
CLOSE! Rodriguez slams a low shot from just outside the box which flies just wide of the far post.
Nantes are screaming for a penalty as Djordjevic is pulled down just inside the box by Carvalho. The referee opted to give nothing, and the La Beaujoire crowd are furious.
YELLOW CARD Devaux goes into the book for bringing down Toulalan.
Martial has oceans of room on the right as he is slid in by Rodriguez. The striker is baring down on goal, but slips as he makes his way into the penalty area and look gutted.
Monaco are just trying to run the clock down now. They may have been far from their best today, with their best player failing to turn up, but they are ahead with just minutes left to play.
MONACO CHANGE Tisserand is on for the final four minutes of the match, replacing Raggi.
Nantes are awarded a free kick right on the edge of the D. This is a big chance.
It takes a deflection and goes behind for a corner.
Handbags here as Nantes put the ball in the back of the net, but the referee had already awarded a free kick Monaco's way.
We'll have three minutes added time.
MISS! What a massive chance for Bedoya to steal a point in the last minute of the match. Gakpe makes a terrific pass and puts the ball on a plate in the area for Bedoya, but he slices his shot over. That was the chance.
FULL TIME: Nantes 0-1 AS Monaco
That's the end of the match and Monaco pick up a vital win at the expense of Nantes. It's their first since the end of October and they move to within a point of Lille in second.
Mounir Obbadi scored the winner, which leaves Nantes in fifth.
Well that's it from me, I hope you enjoyed the game. Until the next time, goodbye.