Nantes – this season’s surprises or just a fluke?

There always seems to be one every season, or so it appears. Last season in the Bundesliga, it was RB Leipzig, whilst Atalanta shocked Serie A to finish in an impressive fourth last term. Not too long ago, it was Sassuolo, who established themselves as giant killers after making their top flight debut only in 2013. And who can forget Leicester City’s unprecedented Premier League triumph in 2016?

Meanwhile, in Ligue 1, Nice finished in a very solid third recently, only behind Monaco and PSG. This time around, however, Les Aiglons aren’t exactly soaring at the moment, and based on points alone, are actually closer to the relegation spots than a European berth – although due to how congested things are in the table, that could change quite quickly. Meanwhile, as Monaco and PSG predictably battle it out for supremacy, another team, Nantes, quietly have been plugging along and have been keeping up the pressure on the top two.

But who exactly are Nantes? For starters, they just so happen to be led by none other than Claudio Ranieri. That’s right. The same Ranieri who guided the highly unfavored Leicester City to the Premier League title, so clearly, they are in the hands of  a manager who has experience in pulling off the unexpected. Les Canaris have clinched eight Ligue 1 titles, making them among the most successful sides in French football, with their last triumph coming back during the 2000/2001 season.

They certainly don’t play the prettiest football – scoring just nine goals so far from their ten games, meaning that it’s more focused on efficiency rather than blowing away the opposition, but it’s certainly working, as they have earned 20 points, putting them just two behind last season’s title winners Monaco, who have scored nearly three times their total, but have conceded 12 goals – five more than Nantes’ measly total of seven. In fact, save for Montpellier, who have shipped just six, Nantes have the strongest defensive record thus far after ten rounds, bettering even PSG’s eight.

Nantes also hold the record for the fewest matches lost in a single season – one – during the 1994/1995 campaign. No French team, to date, has managed to complete a Ligue 1 campaign sans defeat.

But historical lesson aside, are Nantes set to be the real deal, or are they just a flash in the pan? Ranieri obviously has a track record of improving clubs’ fortunes – and his work at Leicester certainly proves that. With that in mind, it’s still early in the season, and they have yet to face the rampant force of PSG or Monaco. Then again, Nantes aren’t shooting to win the Ligue 1 title, after finishing seventh last season. They are simply likely hoping to slightly improve on that, so even a Champions League spot, let alone a Europa League berth would be more than adequate for the side.

Then again, considering that Leicester were battling relegation and a year later went on to win the Premier League title under this very same manager…anything really is possible. Nantes certainly can shape out to be a real contender, then, for at least a top four finish and make a real push for their first Champions League appearance in several seasons.