Nantes vs Lyon prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2025-01-25 16:15.
[p]Life in Ligue 1 this season continues to be a slog for Nantes, as a 1-1 draw with Saint-Etienne last weekend meant their recent form reads one win in 15 Ligue 1 games (D7, L7). That return leaves them just above the relegation play-off spot by virtue of goal difference ahead of the round and still firmly in the battle to avoid their first relegation since 2008/09.[/p]
[p]Improving home form would certainly go a long way towards helping Nantes finally turn a corner, as they’ve taken just nine points from a possible 24 this term (W2, D3, L3) – the second-lowest tally in the competition pre-round. Taking the first step on that road against Lyon could prove tough, as the Canaries failed to win any of their last four home league H2Hs (D1, L3) since a 2-1 victory in April 2019. [/p]
[p]To make matters worse for the hosts, Lyon have lost just two of their last 23 Ligue 1 H2Hs overall since 2009 (W15, D6) which should leave the visitors primed for more success here, although their recent form remains wayward. A 0-0 draw with Fenerbahce in midweek European action made it four winless competitive outings (D2, L2), with one of those defeats witnessing them suffer one of the biggest upsets in Coupe de France history as they were knocked out by fifth-tier opposition! [/p]
[p]Both of those results form part of a sequence of just one win across their last five away match days for Lyon (D1, L3) – an obvious area of improvement if they’re serious about a top-four finish. Manager Pierre Sage will hope that his side can return to winning ways here too, as whilst in charge of the club, he’s never failed to win three successive Ligue 1 fixtures (currently D1, L1). [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Moses Simon netted Nantes’ early opener last time out, but he’s only ever faced Marseille (10) more times in Ligue 1 without ever scoring than he has against Lyon (9). Unlike him, Lyon’s Rayan Cherki has previously enjoyed playing in this fixture, recording five goal contributions (G2, A3) across eight prior H2Hs – his most against any side. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Nantes’ Ligue 1 matches this season have averaged 10.56 total corners – a league-high tally ahead of the round. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Nathan Evans[/i][/p]