St Etienne vs Nantes Prediction & Tips
A 1-0 win over fourth-tier opposition in the Coupe de France last time out may do little to inspire confidence amongst Saint-Étienne fans that their team can pull off a Christmas victory here. The fact remains that the hosts have not scored in 337 minutes of Ligue 1 action and contributing to that is St-Étienne’s lack of an out-and-out scorer, evidenced by different players scoring each of their last seven league goals.
The ten-time French champions are suffering an almighty fall from grace. Just four points separate them from safety ahead of this round, and their worst ever return of top-flight home defeats in a calendar year after suffering nine during 2021 (W4, D7, L9) has given them a lot to reflect on ahead of 2022.
After featuring in the relegation playoff last season, Nantes have gone from strength to strength in this campaign and could end the year in the top half, depending on results elsewhere. To help them achieve that aim, Nantes will look to register three straight league wins for the first time this season after recording back-to-back wins coming into this clash, following a five-game winless streak prior (D2, L3).
Despite St-Étienne’s woeful form, this will be no walk in the park for Nantes, who registered just their second away league win – and their first travelling clean sheet of the campaign – at Lorient in their last trip. Moreover, visiting manager Antoine Kombouaré’s sides have not kept a clean sheet in his last nine H2Hs with ‘Les Verts’ (W2, D1, L6).
Players to watch: Wahbi Khazri ended a six-game goal contribution drought with an assist last time out, and has scored 41% of St-Étienne’s Ligue 1 haul this term (G7). With their top scorer suspended, Nantes may look to Randal Kolo Muani for a goal. Just one of his six goals this term were match openers, though he did strike first in this fixture in 2020/21.
Hot stat: Five of Nantes’ last eight Ligue 1 games featured at least one red card.
St Etienne – Nantes FREE TIPS
Nantes – Win @ 3.25
