Nantes v Angers

Nantes vs Angers Preview

This weekend marks the final round of fixtures in the French top flight and features this upcoming clash between fourth from bottom outfit Nantes and already relegated Angers, and although the visitors are already resigned to Ligue 2 football next season, Nantes simply must win this game if they're to have any chance of survival.

Nantes' destiny is out of their hands though as they also need Auxerre to draw or lose their final match of the season against Lens, while Nantes have failed to win any of their last 14 league matches in Ligue 1, so the hosts find themselves up against it here.

Within this 14-game winless run, Nantes have also slipped to nine defeats in the process, making this upcoming vital clash even trickier for the hosts but the goals market looks appealing here as nine of Nantes' 14 games have also resulted in Over 2.5 goals.

Results and form on home soil at their Stade de la Beaujoire have also taken a nose-dive in recent times as the hosts have now failed to win any of their last seven matches, drawing three and losing four; however, five of these seven home games have also produced three goals or more.

Angers were already relegated from the French top flight a while ago but this hasn't stopped the visitors from staging a late rally as they have picked up four points from their last two games by way of picking up a point in a 2-2 draw away from home at Reims and then recording a 2-1 home win against Troyes.

It's all too little too late though for Angers who sit rock-bottom of the Ligue 1 table where they find themselves a massive 17 points adrift of safety so they now have Ligue 2 football to look forward to for next season, but they may still have a say in determining Nantes' fate in this final fixture of the season.

Although wins have been hard to come by for Angers, picking up just four wins to date in what has been a disastrous campaign, the goals have certainly flowed as 26 of Angers' 37 games to date in Ligue 1 have resulted in Over 2.5 goals (70.3%), which is the highest percentage of Over 2.5 goals in the division.

Angers have claimed just one away win all season but 12 of their 18 games on the road (66%) have produced three goals or more.

Nantes v Angers Verdict

Nantes are expected to go all-out for the three points here at their Stade de la Beaujoire as they know it's a case of now or never, while Angers will at least want to finish on a high and depart Ligue 1 on a winning note, and these factors look like contributing to a high-scoring game, and perhaps even a high-scoring draw.

Therefore, our main bet will be Over 2.5 goals @ 1.57

Other side bets worth considering: Draw @ 5.25

Correct score: 2-2 @ 21.00