- Team form: Nantes are winless in their last five matches in all competitions, losing all five (L5).
- Rodez form: Rodez are in mixed to strong form, with three wins, one draw and one defeat in their last five in all competitions (W3, D1, L1).
Nantes’ bad patch to be capitalised upon by Rodez
Ligue 2 2026/2027 Rodez Aveyron will be looking to take advantage of Nantes' rough patch in this Saturday's clash at the Stade de la Beaujoire in France. Nantes have lost all five of their matches in all competitions since the start of the current campaign, with a 1-0 defeat away to Le Mans FC last weekend leaving them 18th in the table with no points from two games – a disastrous start for a team tipped to bounce back to Ligue 1 at the first time of asking.
Rodez now sit 7th in the early standings with three points from their first two games. The visitors will fancy their chances here with Nantes in such bad form, and Didier Santini's side have shown enough in their early games to suggest that they can hurt Les Canaris when the transitions are working.
Michel Der Zakarian has his team playing a vertical, disciplined 4-2-3-1 system, where their high work-rate and pace allows them to press compactly, and hit opponents hard on the counter. However, Rodez play a direct, transition-heavy game in which they press their opponents high up the field, and use their wingbacks and three defenders to attack teams in numbers when they win the ball back.
Ruthénois can make the running in key clash
Match dynamics
The wide lanes and the turnovers in midfield appear to be the most significant factors in this matchup, and both sides are built to strike quickly once the press is on.
Key players
- Ibrahima Balde is Rodez's hottest finisher, as he has scored four of the club's last seven goals in Ligue 2 2026/2027.
- Bahereba Guirassy has hit the back of the net once in two Ligue 2 2026/2027 appearances for Nantes and is their main scoring outlet, while Jordan Correia has been a good provider from the left of a front three, contributing one assist in the opening two matches.
Markets
Nantes are the favorites for this one at 1.65, but their dreadful start to the season makes this feel more like a trap game than a sure thing. A tight victory for Les Canaris or a draw with under three goals looks the best fit for the numbers in this one, with Under 2.5 goals and Both Teams to Score – No both live at 1.88, while the draw is 3.75.
