Monaco vs Nantes: Ligue 1 Preview, Team News & Prediction

Nantes have a chance to temporarily climb out of the Ligue 1 relegation zone with a win or draw against Monaco on Friday at Stade Louis II.

Monaco, currently 10th in the table, played to a 0-0 draw against rivals Nice in their last match, while Nantes were narrowly defeated 1-0 by Lyon.

Match Preview

Monaco’s season has been characterized by inconsistency, following a dominant 4-0 victory over Rennes with a disappointing performance. A return to Champions League competition appears increasingly unlikely, as they trail Marseille by 11 points for a qualifying spot.

However, Sébastien Pocognoli’s team is currently on a three-match unbeaten streak in the league, having conceded no goals during that stretch. Six of their eight domestic victories this season have come at home, and a win on Friday would mark their first consecutive home victories since August-September 2025.

A clean sheet would also represent Monaco’s longest run without conceding a goal in the top-flight since March-April 2021 (five games). Historically, Monaco has dominated Nantes, remaining unbeaten in their previous 11 Ligue 1 encounters, winning 10 of those matches and scoring four or more goals in four of them.

Nantes, under Ahmed Kantari, have suffered four consecutive league defeats, though three of those were by a single goal. Despite their struggles, they have secured maximum points in two of their last three competitive away games, including a notable 2-0 win at Marseille in January. However, they have failed to find the back of the net in four of their away matches this season, and have the third-fewest goals in the league with 19.

Nantes are at risk of losing five consecutive top-flight matches for the first time this decade, having already matched their longest losing run from the 2024-25 season. They have conceded 18 goals in their previous four matches against Monaco, managing only one point over that period.

Monaco Ligue 1 form:

Monaco form (all competitions):

Nantes Ligue 1 form:

Nantes form (all competitions):

Team News

Monaco are dealing with several injuries, including Paul Pogba, Mohammed Salisu, Takumi Minamino, and Lukas Hradecky, all sidelined with knee injuries. Wout Faes remains doubtful due to an ankle sprain, while Kassoum Ouattara and Eric Dier are expected to miss the match with calf strains, and Christian Mawissa is out with a hamstring injury.

For Nantes, Bahmed Deuff may be unavailable due to a knock, and Deiver Machado could be forced out with a hamstring problem. Abakar Sylla made his club debut last week, coming on as a substitute for Nicolas Cozza in the final 19 minutes of their match against Lyon.

Monaco possible starting lineup:

Kohn; Teze, Zakaria, Kehrer; Vanderson, Camara, Coulibaly, Henrique; Akliouche, Golovin; Balogun

Nantes possible starting lineup:

Lopes; Amian, Youssif, Cozza; Centonze, Coquelin, Lepenant, Tabibou; Cabella, Abline; Mohamed

Monaco’s home advantage and Nantes’ recent struggles suggest a favorable outcome for the hosts. Nantes’ attacking difficulties and Monaco’s defensive solidity point towards a 2-0 victory for Sébastien Pocognoli’s side.