25 August 2021, 16:19 | 28 August 2021, 15:29
French Ligue 1 fixture, F.C. Nantes vs. Olympique Lyonnais kicks off at 20:00 (GMT+1) on Friday, August 27 at the Stade de la Beaujoire.
Preview Nantes Ligue 1, Aug 27, 2021
Preview F.C. Nantes picked up their first loss of the season last weekend in the 1-0 defeat to Rennes. The Yellow House kept a tight backline, hoping to knock Rennes off with a well-thought-out counter-attack. However, the opportunity never came by. French midfielder, 26-year-old Rennes' Baptiste Santamaria assisted Martin Terrier (58') for the only goal of the game. - Terrier's first for the season which signalled the end of Nantes' unbeaten run. The narrow defeat leaves the Yellow House in 8th place, - eight places above Lyon while having 4 points and a G.D. of +1 after three games: 1W, 1D & 1L. On Friday, returning to winning ways will be in the plans for coach Antoine Kombouaré. A conventional 4—4—2 formation with the duo consisting of Renaud Emond and Nigerian forward, Moses Simon is expected. No injuries have been reported in the squad.
Preview Olympique Lyonnais Ligue 1, Aug 27, 2021
Preview Yet to find a win since Match Day 1, Lyon were held to a 3-3 draw at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais in last Sunday's six-goal thriller against Clermont Foot. Moussa Dembele (5’ P) put Lyon in the lead from the penalty spot but an own goal from Sinaly Diomande (12’ O.G.) erased Lyon's lead. But Lyon retook the lead after Dembele (21’) returned for the brace sixteen minutes after his first. Lucas Paqueta (45’) thought he had wrapped up the three points at the stroke of half-time. But late goals in the shape of a brace from Elbasan Rashani (80’ & 90’+ET) salvaged a point for the visiting Clermont Foot. Swim or sink, a very worried Peter Bosz will be at the dug-out when Lyon visits the Stade de la Beaujoire on Friday. Set to play catch-up, Lyon decided to secure the signature of the Swiss international, Xherdan Shaqiri for a fee of €6M. Apparently, he will not be available for Bosz on Match Day 4 but could be up for selection after the international break. On Match Day 3, Bosz reshuffled the attacking line-up, throwing Lucas Paqueta in while moving the versatile forward, Ekambi to the left of the midfield. Dembele shouldered the responsibility of goal scoring, as the focal point of attack. A similar shape, 4—2—3—1 is expected on Friday. On availability, striker Lenny Pintor and attacking midfielder, Jeff Reine-Adélaïde remain doubtful for this fixture. Meanwhile, left-back, Maxwel Cornet is expected to leave the club before the end of the transfer window.