Nantes grab first win of the season against Auxerre

FC Nantes grabbed their first win of the season at a rainy Stade de la Beaujoire thanks to a well-executed chip by Mostopha Mohamed in the eighth minute. After losing out to Paris Saint-Germain and RC Strasbourg in their first two matches of the season, Luís Castro's men grabbed their first points and win of the season after grinding out a victory against a tough to beat Auxerre side on Saturday evening. And the Canaris had a lot to thank for the heroics of Anthony Lopes to hold firm against Christophe Pélissier’s spirited visitors.

It took just eight minutes for the Canaris to break their duck this season. Serhou Guirassy delicately flicked the ball into Mohamed’s path, and the Egyptian forward made no mistake one-on-one with Donovan Léon’s stand-in Théo De Percin. The goal survived a VAR review, providing relief for a Nantes side desperate to kickstart their campaign.

Auxerre fight back

From that moment, however, it was Auxerre who dictated much of the play, Sinayoko and Casimir frequently threatening from the flanks. Lopes, signed from Lyon this summer, underlined his experience with a string of decisive interventions – most notably denying Namaso twice in the second half and tipping over Casimir’s driven strike.

Nantes came close to doubling their lead late on when substitute Matthis Abline’s cross looped onto the post, but the majority of the second half was spent withstanding Auxerre’s relentless pressure. Pélissier’s men thought they had equalised through Namasi, but the forward was ruled offside in the build-up.

In the end, Nantes held out for three crucial points – their first Ligue 1 McDonald's win under Luis Castro. While the performance will not erase concerns over their lack of control in midfield and vulnerability under pressure, the resilience shown and the influence of Lopes offer positives going forward.

Auxerre, meanwhile, will feel aggrieved to leave empty-handed, having created the better chances on the night. Still, with Sinayoko in lively form, Pélissier can take encouragement despite defeat.

THE STAT: Johann joy

Johann Lepenant won 86% of his duels against Auxerre (12/14), the highest ratio for a Nantes player having played at least 10 in a Ligue 1 match in 2025.