Lyon vs Nantes prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2024-10-05 13:00.
[p]Lyon are getting into their stride after starting slowly this season, with Thursday’s 4-1 UEFA Europa League win over Rangers their third straight victory in all competitions, which have all been achieved while scoring at least twice. It’s a marked improvement on last term when they picked up just two points from their first six Ligue 1 games, but there’s plenty of work still ahead if they’re to catch the leading pack (W2, D1, L3).[/p]
[p]That work includes finding more consistency at home, as they’ve lost two of their last three league matches here (W1), as many as they had in the previous ten Ligue 1 fixtures at the Groupama Stadium (W7, D1). As Les Gones prepare for a 100th top-flight meeting with Nantes, they have good reason to expect better given that they’ve tasted defeat in just one of the last 23 H2Hs that they’ve hosted (W18, D4).[/p]
[p]Yet Nantes come into this contest two points better off than Lyon (W2, D3, L1) on the back of draws with Angers (1-1) and Saint-Étienne (2-2), so pose a threat that shouldn’t be taken lightly. In both matches, their opponents scored penalties to equalise and the man who conceded both spot-kicks, Jean-Charles Castelletto, has reportedly been banished to the reserves following a clash with head coach Antoine Kombouaré.[/p]
[p]It’s a bold move given that the Canaries have several players unavailable due to injury and have only won one of their last six away league games (D4, L1). Still, they’re unbeaten on the road this term (W1, D2), so few will be complaining about Kombouaré’s methods if they can keep that up, particularly in Lyon, where they’ve struggled in recent times.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Malick Fofana has four goal involvements (G3, A1) across Lyon’s last two matches, with four of his last six goals for the club arriving after the 75th minute. Nantes’ Moses Simon has directly contributed to four goals in their last five outings (G2, A2), with two of his last three goals coming between the tenth and 15th minutes.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Lyon have scored a league-high six times in second-half injury time in Ligue 1 this term going into this weekend. [/p]
[p][i]Written by John Pennington[/i][/p]