Preview: ASSE host Nantes in crucial battle

The teams sat in 15th and 16th in the Ligue 1 McDonald's table face-off on Sunday afternoon as Saint-Étienne host Nantes in a vital six-pointer in the race to stay up in the top flight. Nantes sit just above Sainté in the table on goal difference, with everything to play for at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.

Saint-Étienne have won one of their last five games in the league, but they did face Paris Saint-Germain following Eirik Horneland's first win in charge against Reims (3-1) on his debut on the ASSE bench. Meanwhile, Nantes managed to secure a decent draw against AS Monaco (2-2) in their last outing, which put them on level-pegging with Saint-Étienne before this afternoon's crucial fixture.

Saint-Étienne boss Horneland was certainly wary of his opponents in his pre-match press conference. “Yes, I've watched Nantes play. Nantes are a big Ligue 1 McDonald's team. I think it's going to be an interesting match. They are a hard-working team who have very clear ideas about how to play. We'll have to be as intense as possible on Sunday."

Les Verts fared well against PSG last Sunday, before ultimately being defeated by a brace from winger Ousmane Dembélé. They'll thus be hoping to get themselves out of the relegation play-off spot that they are sat in currently (16th).

"It's going to be a heated match, just the way we like it," said Nantes manager Antoine Kombouaré in his pre-match press conference. "It's important to get a result at Saint-Étienne, because we can knock the opposition on the head. We can take a lead, that's good, but it won't necessarily be decisive."

Les Canaris' form has picked up slightly since November, with a draw against PSG followed up with a win, two draws, and one defeat. FCN, however, have only won one of their last 14 games in Ligue 1 McDonald's this season. With Sainté hoping to leapfrog them at home, it's a test which will go a long way to deciding the hopes of each team to stay up in the top flight by the end of teh season. 

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