Monaco vs Nantes preview: Kickoff time, team news, form and prediction

Monaco welcome Nantes to the Stade Louis-II on Friday with both clubs chasing crucial points at opposite ends of the Ligue 1 table. Kickoff is set for 3: 05 PM ET on matchday 22.

Kickoff and what’s at stake

The hosts sit 10th after a goalless derby draw with Nice, seven places above a Nantes side hovering around the relegation places. For Monaco, a push toward European qualification remains alive but fragile, while Nantes can temporarily climb out of danger with a positive result. The meeting arrives at a juncture where both form and momentum could have an outsized impact on their respective seasons.

Form check: Monaco’s clean-sheet streak vs. uneven results

Monaco’s season has swung between impressive highs and frustrating lows. A 4-0 dismantling of Rennes recently underlined their ceiling, only to be followed by a flat 0-0 at Nice. Even so, there is a defensive platform emerging: they are unbeaten in three league matches and have not conceded during that run. Six of their eight domestic victories this campaign have come at home, and another win here would mark back-to-back home league triumphs for the first time since August–September 2025.

There’s also a broader defensive milestone in play. Another shutout on Friday would give Monaco their longest top-flight run without conceding since March–April 2021. History also favors the hosts in this fixture: Monaco are unbeaten in 11 league meetings with Nantes, winning 10 of those and scoring four or more goals in four of the last 11 clashes.

Nantes’ narrow margins and away-day hope

Nantes arrive on a run of four straight league defeats, three of them by a single goal — a pattern that underscores how fine the margins have been in recent weeks. They have, however, shown signs of life on the road in cup and league action, taking maximum points in two of their last three competitive away matches, including a statement 2-0 victory at Marseille in early January.

Goals remain the primary concern. Nantes have failed to score in four league away games this season and own the third-fewest goals in the division. Another setback would mean five consecutive league losses for the first time this decade. Against Monaco specifically, the record is sobering: 18 goals conceded across the previous four meetings and just one point taken in that span.

Team news: Monaco

Monaco’s selection picture is complicated by injuries. Knee issues are expected to keep Paul Pogba, Mohammed Salisu, Takumi Minamino and goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky out, while Wout Faes is a doubt with an ankle sprain. Kassoum Ouattara and Eric Dier are likely sidelined by calf problems, and Christian Mawissa remains out with a hamstring concern.

On the positive side, right-sided defender Vanderson indicated this week that he feels in a better place physically after a stop-start first half of the campaign, emphasizing both his defensive responsibilities and his comfort when deployed with license to push forward. He also stressed a united dressing room and a determination to prove Monaco’s quality during the run-in.

Team news: Nantes

Nantes have concerns of their own. Midfielder Bahmed Deuff is nursing a knock and could miss out, while Deiver Machado faces a race against time with a hamstring problem. At the back, Abakar Sylla made his club debut last week after arriving on loan, replacing Nicolas Cozza late on. How quickly Sylla settles could be pivotal for a defense that has struggled historically in this matchup.

Tactics and key battles

Expect Monaco to lean on their recent defensive solidity while seeking width and overlaps, particularly if Vanderson is granted room to advance. Breaking down a low block has been a recurring test, and Nantes are likely to sit compact, then spring forward on counters down the flanks — a blueprint that troubled Monaco in the reverse fixture. The hosts will need sharper combinations in and around the box than they managed against Nice, while set pieces could prove decisive for both sides given Nantes’ difficulties creating consistent danger from open play.

For Nantes, transition efficiency is essential. If they can survive Monaco’s early pressure and stretch the game in wide areas, the visitors may find opportunities. But they must also reduce the individual errors that have cost them in recent meetings with the Principality club.

Prediction

Monaco’s defensive form, historical edge, and home comfort tilt this in their favor, even with a lengthy absentee list. Nantes have shown resilience away from home but continue to struggle for goals. Prediction: Monaco 2-0 Nantes.