Nantes vs Saint-Etienne Prediction: Back Nantes to win

The mouth-watering Ligue 1 encounter on September 29, 2024, sees Nantes welcome Saint-Étienne to the Stade de la Beaujoire. Nantes sit 5th in Ligue 1 and have had a good start to the season, where they have won two and drawn two of the last five, while only losing one. They are up against a Saint-Étienne side that finds themselves extremely lowly in 17th position with just one win in their last five, four losses, and one embarrassing defeat in which they let in eight goals in one match against Nice. This could be a defining game for both sides, with Nantes seeking a top-five place and Saint-Étienne in desperate need of points to stay clear of the relegation zone.

While coming into this match, Nantes has much better form than Saint-Étienne, unbeaten in this fixture for five games. Traditionally, Saint-Étienne has had the better of both teams, winning eight out of the last twelve, but recent head-to-head form gives Nantes the edge. Both teams have struggled to score freely, with several of their recent matches producing under 2.5 goals.

Nantes will not change anything and should line up in their preferred 4-2-3-1 shape, which best balances out being solid at the back and also fluid going forward. The presence of the two holding midfielders at all times shields the backline as it ensures balance and control of possession. It comes as no surprise to see them dominating the duels, using long balls, and controlling the wide areas through crosses and overlapping fullbacks. Nantes have been winning a couple of their recent games with an opening goal, so maybe they will press early to get the most out of scoring first in this game.

While the morale of Saint-Étienne will be at an all-time low after their embarrassing 8-0 defeat to Nice, Nantes is more stable even though they were held to a 1-1 draw in their last outing against Angers. Nantes' tactical discipline and solid defense has seen them through, battling for their lives while the frailties of Saint-Étienne are constantly exposed at the back.

Saint-Étienne probably would stick with the 4-3-3 setup, but this would have certainly suffered a setback in confidence after the crushing defeat to Nice. This system does rely on the wings for attacking impetus, but all too often, the midfield has been overrun by virtue of exposing them. No big chances whatsoever were carved out in their last match, so if they want to break down Nantes' defense, then massive improvement would be in order. Their midfield trio should be more involved in defense and possession, while they need to steer clear of early goals conceded, a trend all season long.

While traditionally, eight wins have gone Saint-Étienne's way, the recent trend has favored Nantes with no losses in the last five meetings. The last time they played, in May 2022, it finished 1-1 at the home of Nantes. This is indicative that this will be a tight match with perhaps a slight advantage to Nantes.

This isn't likely to be a particularly high-scoring game given the difference in form, and Nantes are the most likely winners. Defensive problems have been readily apparent for Saint-Étienne, who may struggle to contain a more structured approach from Nantes. Considering that Nantes are able to open the scoring and maintain momentum early on in most of their games, they're set to take charge of this tie whereas Saint-Étienne lack all confidence and are frail at the back, which often sees them concede.

• Home Win @ 1.832 Odds
• Home Win & Over 1.5 Goals 2.09 Odds
• Correct Score 2-0 @ 8.00 Odds