Two relegation candidates meet in Ligue 1 on Sunday, as St-Etienne host Nantes in a six-pointer near the bottom of the table.
Heading into the weekend, the visitors sit just above their hosts on goal difference in the standings, leaving everything to play for at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
Match preview
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Following their promotion via the Ligue 2 promotion playoffs last season, the hosts have found life difficult in the top division.
After a disappointing start to the campaign, in which St Etienne only won four times in their first 15 matches, Les Verts parted ways with manager Olivier Dall'Oglio in December.
The former Rennes defender was replaced at the club by Norwegian manager Eirik Horneland, and he made a winning start with his new team, with a 3-1 victory over Reims in his first game in charge at the start of January.
Last time out, Horneland's men travelled to the capital to take on defending champions Paris Saint-Germain and the visitors gave a good account of themselves, losing 2-1 at Parc Des Princes.
It is too early to judge whether the first two games can be described as a new manager bounce at the club, but their fans will certainly be hoping the positive performances can continue for the foreseeable future.
Horneland does not have any easy task ahead of him, as he has inherited a team with the second-leakiest defence in the league, having conceded 37 goals in 17 league matches.
On top of that, they have one of the least prolific attacks in the league, having only scored 16 goals in their 17 matches - with four of those coming during Horneland's short time in charge, highlighting their quick improvement under their new boss.
Although it has been a season to forget so far for the club, the new manager can point to their significantly better home record as another reason to be positive going into the relegation scrap with Nantes this weekend.
All five of the club's wins in the league so far this campaign have come on home soil, and only three of the 11 defeats they have suffered so far this year have been at home, which is another good omen ahead of such an important fixture.
Unfortunately for the hosts, they have failed to come close to replicating their good home form on their travels, with St Etienne gaining only one point on the road all campaign.
At home, they have conceded just eight times in eight games, yet away from home they have shipped an astonishing 29 goals in nine matches.
![Antoine Kombouare, coach of FC Nantes during his side's match against Montpellier on April 26, 2024 [on August 9, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/32/antoine-kombouare.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Antoine Kombouare, coach of FC Nantes during his side's match against Montpellier on April 26, 2024 [on August 9, 2024]")
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Therefore, they will be glad to be at home for this match, as they entertain a Nantes side with a manager that has been under pressure in recent weeks.
Having failed to reach an agreement with either Sergio Conceicao or Habib Beye, Les Canaris decided to stick with Antoine Kombouare, despite suffering four straight defeats between the end of October and late November.
Since then, their form has picked up slightly, and a draw with PSG on November 30 was followed up with a win, two draws and one defeat in the league fixtures since.
Despite a small sign of improvement, the visitors have struggled to win games this season – with just one win in their last 14 outings in Ligue 1.
Although it is far from a turnaround, one defeat in their last five games has bought Kombouare a bit more time in the dugout, but with their 12-year stay in Ligue 1 under threat, his side cannot afford to lose to St Etienne.
The visitors will need to improve on their away record to have any chance this weekend, having only won one game on their travels all season, picking up just seven points on the road.
Their bad luck on the road continued in midweek, as they were dumped out of the Coupe de France after a 2-1 defeat to Brest.
Team News
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Ibrahim Sissoko remains absent for the hosts, as he continues to serve his lengthy suspension following his dismissal in the Coupe de France clash with Marseille.
St Etienne also have a number of players out injured, with Ibrahima Wadji, Yvann Macon, Ben Old and Thomas Monconduit all due back later this month.
In more disappointing news for the hosts, both Aimen Moueffek and Florian Tardieu are expected to be out of this contest due to illness.
Meanwhile, the visitors have a shorter injury list, with Tino Kadewere (muscle) and Pedro Chirivella (knee) expected back to return to action later this month.
In another blow for the visitors, Nathan Zeze is out of action until next month with a sprained ankle.
Saint-Etienne possible starting lineup:
Larsonneur; Petrot, Nade, Batubinsika, Appiah; Ekwah, Mouton, Davitashvili, Bouchouari, Cafaro; Stassin
Nantes possible starting lineup:
Lopes; Duverne, Castelletto, Pallois, Amian, Cozza; Lepenant, Augusto, Simon, Thomas; Abline
We say: Saint-Etienne 2-1 Nantes
Having been knocked out of the Coupe de France by Marseille in December, the hosts will be more fresh than a Nantes team that played in the cup in midweek.
Therefore, we think that St Etienne will win a close game against a side that struggle to win matches on their travels.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Tom Humphrey
