Prediction: Nantes vs Toulouse

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 19/20

Bookmaker: Unibet

Nantes appear to have taken a big step towards Ligue 1 survival after they triumphed in the first leg of the relegations play-offs, 1-2 away to Toulouse. All three goals came in the opening quarter of the match as Ludovic Blas broke the deadlock in the 10th minute, Devier Machado equalized for Toulouse in the 18th, and Randal Kolo Muani set the final score in the 22nd.

The two teams will face each other again on Sunday, this time at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes.

Nantes

Antoine Kombouare’s team faced Montpellier at home in the final round of the league campaign, and a win in that match would have secured their survival then and there. However, they failed to earn a single point, losing 1-2, and finished in 18th place with 40 points, one less than Brest in 17th, and two less than Lorient, Strasbourg and Reims in 16th, 15th and 14th, respectively.

The defeat to Montpellier was a bit of a surprise, despite the visitors being ranked considerably higher at the end, due to the fact that Nantes had won their four previous matches straight. Looking at that run, coupled with the result in the first leg, it can be said they are on a good run of form at the moment.

Team News

Kombouare should have the same squad at his disposal as in the first leg, and there wouldn’t be any need for change in the starting lineup had it not been for the coach’s admission after the game that there were some tired legs in his team due to the hectic schedule.

Nonetheless, the only change that could happen would be Sebastien Corchia coming in at right-back in the place of Dennis Appiah.

Toulouse

Toulouse suffered relegation at the end of 2019-20 and they will have been happy with earning a chance to climb back straight away. They would’ve obviously preferred to have gone up directly by finishing first or second in Ligue 2, but the third place in itself is not to be sneezed at. Their 3-0 win over Grenoble Foot 38 proved ultimately fruitless – it was already confirmed they would finish third beforehand – except as a potential confidence boost ahead of the play-offs.

Unlike Nantes, Toulouse were undefeated in the five matches leading up to their duel, winning three and drawing two.

Team News

Head coach Patrice Garande will be able to count on Steve Mvoue, who has now completed a two-match suspension, but the 19-year-old is still unlikely to be given a start in a game as important as this. On the other hand, Rhys Healey, who scored 15 goals this season, could replace forward Amine Adli in the team after the latter played the full 90 minutes of the first leg.

Conclusion

Having won the first leg and played the whole of 2020-21 at the higher level, Nantes are obviously strong favourites to repeat the feat and stay in the top tier. Toulouse will, on the other hand, have nothing to lose and are expected to go all-out to try and turn the tie around, but their ability to do that remains questionable.

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 19/20

Bookmaker: Unibet