Saint Etienne vs Nantes Prediction Preview

Welcome to our Saint Etienne vs Nantes prediction preview from Ligue 1 this weekend. New manager Eirik Horneland has made quite the impression since taking over at Saint Etienne, has completely revolutionized their style and they are playing with confidence. They will be hoping to beat a Nantes side who have recently held both Lille and Monaco to draws, so there are no mugs. However until they drag themselves out of the relegation battle the pressure will always be on the coaching team at this club. 

Saint Etienne vs Nantes Prediction: Sainte to continue their resurgence under new manager

France Ligue 1, Sunday, January 19th, 14:00 (UK)

There is a new green revolution at Saint Etienne with their recently appointed boss Eirik Horneland making an immediate impact at the club. Saint Etienne were a more conservative, low block and low press team under the previous regime and allowed the second most PPDA of any side in Ligue 1. But Horneland, the former Brann and Rosenborg manager in Norway has already transformed this team into a high press, high energy and exciting team who look a real handful.

Their performance against Reims a couple of weeks ago was highly impressive, allowing their opponents less than 5 PPDA in the first 30 mins, eventually coming from 0-1 down to win 3-1. Their attitude was excellent at PSG last week and their positivity was rewarded with a close 1-2 loss. Sainte will carry a threat under Horneland, winning the ball back regularly and also getting the ball quickly forward in transition. 

To be fair to Nantes they have done well to draw both of their last two matches away to Lille (1-1) and home to Monaco (2-2). They were fancied to lose both of those fixtures but showed decent heart and fight. However, there were elements in both matches which were worrying, not least how they were outgunned 3.40 to 0.77 on the xG last week. They only had two shots on target away to Lille with the goal they scored from the penalty spot. In the midweek Coupe de France, Les Canaris had 16 attempts with only one of those on target.

This will be Nantes’ third match in the space of nine days and comes after that aforementioned cup trip to Brest on Wednesday which they lost 1-2. It was a surprisingly strong XI named by Nantes that night which makes me question how much they’ll have in the tank here. Nantes are going to come under serious physical pressure from St Etienne and in the second half could be running on fumes. The home team looks like a huge price based on a combination of factors. If they play like they have done in the last two matches and with the same attitude then they will have a great chance of winning at a massive price. 

• Saint Etienne vs Nantes  Prediction: Saint Etienne to Win (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 2.55
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10 (TRACKED BET)

St Etienne vs Nantes Prediction odds via bet365 as at 01:00, January 15th, 2025. Odds may now differ.

Saint Etienne vs Nantes Injuries, Team News and Possible Lineups Prediction: Zeze injury blow for Nantes

St Etienne could keep the same lineup that lost 1-2 away to PSG last week. New manager Eirik Horneland is likely to keep his 4-3-3 system which has been high press right from the get go since he was let loose at the club. Last season’s top scorer Ibrahim Sissoko remains suspended as he is midway through his 5 match ban. But striker Lucas Stassin has looked good recently and is arguably a better fit for the new manager. 

Nantes were dealt a severe blow by the news that young defensive star Nathan Zeze could be ruled out for the remainder of the season with a broken ankle sustained against Monaco last weekend. Jean-Kevin Duverne should come in as a replacement. Les Canaris will probably operate in a 5-4-1 counter-attacking system

Saint Etienne possible starting lineup:
Petrot, Nade, Batubinsika, Appiah, Ekwah, Mouton, Bouchouari, Cafaro, Stassin, Davitashvili

Nantes possible starting lineup:
Lopes, Cozza, Duverne, Pallois, Castelletto, Amian, Simon, Augusto, Lepenant, Thomas, Abline

Match OPTA Stats: Nantes struggling away from home

• Nantes have only won 1 out of 9 away matches this season although did draw at Lille last time out (1-1)
• St Etienne have a decent home record this season with 5 wins out of 8 in front of their own fans.
• Nantes average the lowest possession of any team in Ligue 1 (40.5%)
• St Etienne average the second lowest number of shots in Ligue 1 per game (10), although did fire 14 attempts vs Reims in their last home match.

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