If they are to achieve their objectives, do Le Gym need to get back to winning ways at home, where they have not won since beating Metz (M19, 1-0)? "Yes, 100%," replied Francesco Farioli ahead of the clash with Nantes, this Sunday at 3pm. "During the first half of the season, we mainly built up our points tally and our successes at home. Up until the game at Lens and then Metz, which was the first return leg, we had been on an incredible run in front of our fans. We have the need, the necessity and above all the desire to start a new run at home."

The Red and Blacks will face an opponent who, as in the first game, has just changed coach, with Antoine Kombouaré, who was on the Nantes bench between February 2021 and May 2023, returning to replace Jocelyn Gourvennec. "We have prepared for the match by focusing on the individual characteristics of the players," explained Francesco Farioli. "We analysed Antoine Kombouaré's last few performances with Nantes.
 

He's a coach who knows how to adapt, how to vary his playing style depending on the moment, the needs and the demands. In the many games we've seen, he's used a number of different systems. Nantes have a very strong squad, despite the significant absence of (Moses) Simon. They have a lot of players, a lot of alternatives. We can anticipate at least 4 different systems."

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