Nantes vs Lorient Prediction & Betting Tips (23 November)

The draw conceded at Le Havre at the very end of the match 1-1 cost FC Nantes dearly before the international break. The Canaries slipped to 16th place, that of virtual barrage. They then suffered a defeat rich in goals against Monaco 3-5 and another at home, against Metz 0-2. It was therefore on a drought of 3 games without a victory that the two weeks of interruption stopped Luis Castro and his players. The difficult learning curve in Ligue 1 continues for Lorient.

The outgoing Ligue 2 champion has seen victory elude them in the last 6 matches, 3 draws, 3 defeats and remains the most feverish team on the road, with one point taken from the first 18 at stake. The Merlus were notably defeated by Paris FC 2-0, Angers 2-0 and Lens 3-0 on their last trips. They saved the day on their lawn by hanging PSG 1-1 at the end of October and Toulouse 1-1 before the break. 

The list of packages has grown in Nantes since the truce. While the number 1 goalkeeper Lopes, the captains Lepenant and Coquelin in midfield and the winger Lahdo (1 goal) are not guaranteed to find the group, the Canaries saw Leroux enter the infirmary for several weeks. French Espoirs winger Guirassy (2 goals) and young midfielder Tabibou are also in doubt for the restart. Leroux's package will allow Cozza to return full time to the eleven. Luis Castro should renew Abline (2 goals, 2 assists) and El Arabi (2 goals) in his squad. Lorient must still take into account the damaging package of its central defender Faye.

The other players who were unavailable before the break have returned to training. Among them are Isaak Touré, Sanusi, Fadiga, the right piston Katseris and the former Marseillais Dieng, used off the bench. Captain of this team, Abergel (starting midfielder) left prematurely against Toulouse and is not guaranteed to be fully back on his feet for this meeting. With 4 goals on the clock, Pagis is Lorient's top scorer in the first third of the season.