St Etienne vs Nantes Prediction & Betting Tips (19 January)

Saint-Etienne is not safe from relegation. The promoted, who wishes not to make the elevator, is virtually 16th and barrier after having suffered 4 defeats over the last 5 days of Ligue 1. To avoid the shipwreck at the end of the financial year, the Saint-Etienne leaders replaced the now former coach Olivier Dall'Oglio by the Norwegian Eirik Horneland, who arrived during the winter break. The Scandinavian technician saw his team win for the first time on the bench, two weeks ago against Reims 3-1 . However, ASSE left empty-handed from the Parc des Princes where they faced PSG 2-1 last Sunday.

 FC Nantes also finds itself in a critical situation. It has the same total points as Saint-Etienne but is ahead of its opponent of the day in the standings by a favorable goal difference. The Canaries, very close to the relegation zone, have not lost their last two outings in the Championship against opponents who are difficult to maneuver: Lille 1-1 away to Monaco 2-2 at La Beaujoire. On Wednesday, the Nantes residents were able to maintain their good momentum in Brest, in the round of 16 of the Coupe de France. 

Under the floodlights, the clash between St Étienne and Nantes promises to be a riveting encounter. Nantes has shown mixed form in their recent outings, securing hard-fought draws against strong sides like Monaco and Lille. Their dominant performance against JA Drancy, resulting in a 4-0 victory, highlights their attacking prowess. However, their defense has been porous at times, as evidenced by their 4-1 defeats to Brest. This pattern of inconsistency could be a concern as they face St Étienne.

St Étienne, on the other hand, will be keen to capitalize on Nantes' defensive vulnerabilities. With Nantes' defense fluctuating between resilience and fragility, St Étienne's attackers might find opportunities to exploit gaps and apply pressure. The key for St Étienne will be maintaining a high tempo and seizing moments of transition to catch Nantes off guard. Both teams have their strengths and weaknesses, setting the stage for an unpredictable and exciting contest.

As the St Étienne vs. Nantes match approaches on January 19, 2025, a final score prediction of 1:2 in favor of Nantes feels plausible. St Étienne's home advantage and spirited attacks are likely to produce a goal, but Nantes' recent form and their dynamic players, such as Moses Simon and Randal Kolo Muani, might tip the scales. Nantes' ability to break through defenses and capitalize on opportunities could see them netting two goals, securing a crucial win in this thrilling contest.

• Summary: Saint-Étienne is going head to head with Nantes starting on 19 Jan 2025 at 14:00 UTC at Stade Geoffroy Guichard stadium, Saint Etienne city, France. The match is a part of the Ligue 1 .
• Referee: Florent Batta
• St Etienne Feedinco Rating: 6.84
• Nantes Feedinco Rating: 6.84