Nantes vs Monaco prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2025-01-09 18:00.
[p]French media reports that Antoine KombouarĂ© would be sacked as Nantes boss over the Christmas break may have proved premature, but the manager knows that his time in the dugout might be limited. The Canaries have sunk into the Ligue 1 relegation zone after a run of one win from their last 13 top-flight outings (D5, L7), leaving them at risk of dropping into the second tier – a division they haven’t played in since 2013.[/p]
[p]Their most recent game was a 1-1 draw against Lille, after which KombouarĂ© – who had stormed out of his pre-match press conference – called on his team to “show that we can compete” in order to move clear of danger. He will be hoping that starts at the Stade de la Beaujoire, where Nantes have a chance to register back-to-back home wins for the first time since October 2023 thanks to a 1-0 victory over Rennes last month.[/p]
[p]Opponents Monaco will provide a stern test though, especially as they have only lost one of the last 22 league H2Hs (W15, D6). The travelling supporters will be hoping that serves as a good omen for their side, who sit third in the table after failing to win either of their last two top-flight fixtures (D1, L1), albeit the most recent of them, a 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, was in mid-December.[/p]
[p]Since then, Adi HĂĽtter – who has just penned a new contract – has seen his side beat sixth-tier Union Saint-Jean in the Coupe de France, before returning from the winter break to again lose to PSG, this time in the TrophĂ©e des Champions. The manager admitted that his side were “too passive” in that fixture, but history suggests that the Red and Whites will improve in this game, as they have suffered only three defeats in their last 17 Ligue 1 away encounters (W12, D2).[/p]
[p]Key battle: Matthis Abline’s late equaliser for Nantes against Lille means he has netted first or last in each of his last nine goalscoring appearances. Attempting to keep him quiet may be defender Thilo Kehrer, who has helped keep four clean sheets in his nine meetings with Friday’s opponents, losing just three times (W6) and finding the net twice in the process.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Seven of Nantes’ nine away matches this season have seen both teams score – a Ligue 1 high ahead of this round of fixtures. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Matt Jones[/i][/p]