betprepare.com

Last season Sélestat were easy pickings for Nantes

The guests didn't change their line up during the summer. No one left, and they brought middle back Vujovic. In the first round they easily beat the league rookie Dijon

Thierry Anti extended his contract with Nantes last week. He'll be the head coach up until 2018. The players treated him to a win at the season's opening with a score of 29-24 in Ivry. The game ended with 5 goals of difference, although in the 50th minute the match was at 28-18. The relaxation and the lack of true effort allowed Ivry to score the final 6-1 in the last 10 minutes.

Nantes was the same as last season, their top defense allowed Ivry only to score six goals in the first 30 minutes, and in the 14th minute the score was already 6-1. We have to point out a crucial tactical detail. Coach Anti has, from the start of the season, put the team in the hands of Nicolas Claire, the middle back who came this summer out of PSG. The lad will have a great deal of authority. Against Ivry he scored 5/10 in game, Maqueda had a 6/9; no one else took more than five shots in the game. With Claire's arrival, the role of Stefan Vujic and Gunar Jonson are marginalized, and Alberto Enterrios will completely switch over to left back.


- The game's always easier with such a great defense and great goalkeepers. We've quickly created an advantage for us, we knew it would be hard to make a comeback with a result of 14-6 which we scored up until halftime - said one of coach Anti's assistants, Grégory Cojean.


- The match against Sélestat will be difficult, especially since they've changed a little since last season, and they know each other well. With it comes the fact that they've got nothing to lose. Such teams are always dangerous. I'm worried. We have a great team and huge potential, but I always say: "Be wary of opponents who've got nothing to lose." We have to have a good match opening, and be present in the defense.


Nantes' left back Seufyann Sayad, who was heavily injured and won't play for some time (Achilles' heel), used to wear Sélestat's jersey.


- Sélestat is based on strong players on important positions and young players on wing positions. Their 'trademark' is a the defense. They will surely try to surprise you at the beginning of the match with their speed, and we have to keep an eye on the two goalkeepers who might pose a problem - warns Sayad, who will follow the match from the stands.


- The first game in front of out viewers is very important, we have to focus on ourselves. The new players mustn't feel any pressure.


Last season there was no trouble against Sélestat. Nantes was victorious in each of the three matches, two league ones with 33-23 (home) and 29-24 (away), while they've won a cup-game on home court with a result of 33-25.


Sélestat had a good match, similar to that of Nantes, against Ivry at the very start. Against the league rookie Dijon they've had a score of 16-7 at break-time, and in 39th minute it was 19-10. By the end of the match it was a breeze, and it ended up with 25-21.



- Against the team who're on our level we can't lose points on home court. Besides, as it could be seen last season, we did well as visitors - said, after scoring their first points, Sélestat's prime scorer, their left wing Kévin Beretta (6/9).


The defense did a great job in the first halftime, with the great Fulop as the goalkeeper who collected 11 defenses in the first 30 minutes. In the next part of the game, Dijon's goalkeeper Stojinovic had 11 defenses, Sélestat lost their goal between 49th and 57th minute, Dijon managed to score a little more for a 23-19, and that was it.


- Our defense weakened in the last 15 minutes. But it was still a great night, we were supposed to take two points, and that was done - said coach Jean-Luc Le Gall.


One of the rare segments which didn't function was the effect of right middle backs, Francois-Marie (0/3) and Quentin Eymann (0/2). Montenegrian player Vujovic debuted in the game (1/2), and Podsiadlo was the best left back (4/8).


- Nantes is a team with a very good defense. They know what they're doing in offense. They Have Spaniards in their team who are world champions, and a number of other good players. But we're not about to give up and lose. We're going to get some points. We'll be looking for our chances in game - announced Beretta.

Nantes have won all of their three meetings last year with ease and shown impressive form in the opening game of the season. They defeated the home team, Ivry. They were leading 14-6 in the first half, but the game ended 29-24 only because they rotated a lot in the last 10 minutes and their determination dropped. The guests had 28-18 but Ivry took advantage of their lax attitude and scored 6 while they conceded only 1. Today Nantes have their first game, they won't rotate that much and will be very motivated to play to their maximum. It will be a very tough 60 minutes for the away team, who lost here last season in the league 33-23 and 33-25 in the cup. Selestat is returning with an unchanged line-up, nobody has left and they added just one player, while Nantes is even stronger than last season.