Monaco midfielder Fabinho. (Photo : Getty Images)
Last season's 14th-place finisher FC Nantes (1-0-0, 3 points) will square off with perennial powerhouse club AS Monaco FC (0-0-1, 1 point) at the Stade de la Beaujoire - Louis Fonteneau on August 20, Saturday as the 2016-2017 Ligue 1 season continues.
Nantes won their opening game this season with a 1-0 nipping of newly-promoted squad Dijon FCO on the road at the Stade Gaston Gérard last Saturday, as per the league's official website.
Danish midfielder Nicolaj Thomsen scored the winning goal three minutes into the restart for head coach René Girard's side after the first half ended in a goalless draw.
The newly-acquired midfielder slotted in the only goal of the evening with a "stooping" header off an assist from teammate Jules Iloki that went past the outstretched arms of Dijon goalkeeper Baptiste Reynet.
Les Canaris actually almost sank the opening goal in the first 45 minutes, but French defensive midfielder Valentin Rongier's free kick was dutifully saved by Reynet on the bottom right of the goal.
Meanwhile, Monaco, who finished last season third in the league table but tied on points with Lyon, opened their campaign this term with a 2-2 draw against En Avant de Guingamp at their home ground of Stade Louis II last Friday, ESPN reported.
Les Rouges et Blancs was down early in the match Senegalese midfielder Mustapha Diallo and French Guianese striker Sloan Privat scored a goal each at the 29th and 37th minutes respectively to give the visitors a 2-0 lead at the halftime interval.
It seemed like a "mountain to climb" for the hosts, but head coach Leonardo Jardim's squad was able to cut the deficit to one point at the 71st with a successful penalty kick from Brazilian midfielder Fabinho.
The Red and Whites completed the comeback after Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva found the equalizer with six minutes left before full time, saving Monaco from a disastrous opening day defeat.
Jardim's boys are expected to play better in this second game versus Nantes, although the Canaries are capable to surprise them with an upset if they fail to focus.
The predicted result is a 2-1 win for Monaco.
Nantes starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Riou; Dubois, Vizcarrondo, Silva, de Lima; Thomsen, Gillet, Harit; Iloki, Bammou, Rongier
Monaco starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Subasic; Sidibe, Glik, Nascimento, Mendy; Dirar, Fabinho, Bakayoko, Lemar; Mbappe-Lottin, Carrillo
