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Injuries tailor derby of Western France

Cesson are left without their important back Celica, Briffe is also questionable. Nantes kicked out Toulouse in the League Cup after seven meter shots, and this game is important after the return of the Spanish duo Entrerrios-Maqueda

During summer, Cesson lost their main play maker Romain Ternel (Tremblay), but they brought Damir Batinovic and Dusko Celica, having one of the lowest budgets in the league. However, despite that, the backbone of the last season's team stayed together. They opened the season better than well defeating Nîmes as visitors, tied with Chambery at home, lost to PSG 41-28 which didn't affect anyone in particular. During the week, they defeated Ivry 25-24, earning the quarterfinals of the League Cup.

However, that last win cost him Celica's injury. His knee injury isn't hard, but he still has to pause 3-6 weeks. Cesson don't have a wide roster, so every injury and absence are very important. Since the beginning of the season, the first middle back Jérémy Suty has been absent, and today's performance of another imortant back, Romain Briffe's (thumb), is questionable.

- For me, this game is no different than the others, but the locker room feels more nervous. This is an imprtant game for Cesson. If we win, we could top the table - said Damir Butinovic for the official club site.

The Metkovic native score four goals to PSG, he did the same  in Ivry in the League Cup. Initially, there were some problems with the new game system, but it is starting to work and imposing to the coach Christmann. The hero of the match was the goalkeeper Genty (19), who looks excellent at the beginning of the season.

Duels with Nantes belong to thise local derbies which players like to play. Nantes have a far larger budget, they invested far more money, but last season Cesson won 27-25 at home, while playing 25-25 in Nantes. The season before, it was 27-27 in Rennes, so Cesson have three positive results in a row against their great rivals.

While Cesson endured through drama against Ivry, Nantes earned quarterfinals against Toulouse with even more drama. 7 meter shots had to decide after 25-25 in the regular part and 29-29 in overtime. Beside going through, it is important to stress that coach Anti could again count on his two best players, Alberto Enterrios (1/1) and Maqueda (3/5) are back. Two remaining injured backs - Sayad and Vujic - didn't play. Sayad is badly injured and he won't play today for sure, while Vijuc's return is possible.

In the last league round at Montpellier, Nantes played without all these players, but put on one hell of a show. They were tied during the last 10 minutes, then had the offense for a draw, but then the referees, the Bonaventura sisters, made a terrible mistake and didn't call the penalty on Nyate and Montpellier won with several counterattacks 31-26. The young right back Jordan Camarero was the surprise of the match, scoring Omeyer with no respect. His performance noticeably dropped in the finale (6/12 in total), but he left a good impression. Although, in Bosnia at the World Junior Championship, he imposed himself as a player that cannot be trusted due to haste shoots, bad defensive play and many lost balls.

Today, however, Nantes will look a lot different, Entrerios to the left, Claire in the middle, Maqueda to the right, beside wings Toumi and Rivera (he missed everything against Montpellier; 2/6) and Skof on goal. They are of higher quality than Cesson, and since they play a derby against Dunkerque on Wednesday, they mustn't fail here.

Cesson do not have a wide roster, so every absence is difficult to make up for. They have been playing without their first middle back Suty ever since the season started, another important back Celica is out for today, and Romain Briffe is in question as well. They lost their last round home game vs PSG 41-28, with Celica scoring 6, and then barely managed to beat Ivry (25-24) in the League Cup. Nantes are in full strength, key backs Entrerrios and Maqueda have returned, they have a better team and their motive is unquestionable, even more so since they lost both their games vs this opponent last year.