22 February 2023
Nantes will take to the field on Thursday in the return leg of the Europa League play-offs with a score to settle. Although they defeated Juve in the only other meeting at the Stade de la Beaujoire, it was not enough to halt the Bianconeri's drive to European glory.
Juventus set out not to lose a third consecutive away match in France, having being defeated by Lyon in 2020 and PSG in this season's Champions League, already the longest away losing streak on French soil.
HOME FORM
The Stade de la Beaujoire is where Nantes have collected the bulk of their 28 points in Ligue 1. In fact, four of the Canaries' six league victories have been achieved in front of their fans. The two defeats at home have come against the country's top two teams, Paris Saint Germain and Olympique Marseille.
Overall, Nantes have put together 17 of their 28-point total at their home ground, where they have played two games fewer in the league. For this reason, it is where they will play three of their next four fixtures in domestic competition after Juve's visit.
EUROPEAN FORM
Nantes are currently unbeaten in three matches in Europe - their longest run in European competitions since between December 1999 and December 2000, when they won six in a seven-game unbeaten sequence.
The French side claimed the runners-up spot in Group G of the Europa League with nine points. Six of those points came from 2-1 victories at home, over Olympiacos and Qarabağ. Both matches were won in stoppage time.
The third home match of the group stage was a 4-0 defeat to Freiburg.
In fact, Nantes have conceded goals in all of their last 10 home games in European competition. The last clean sheet, however, came against an Italian team, Lazio, following a 1-0 in the first group stage of the Champions League in 2001/02.
