Match Preview: Lille Travel to Face Nantes Looking to Maintain Perfect Start to New Season

• Nantes vs Lille, Stade de la Beaujoire, Friday 12th August 8PM GMT
• New Lille head coach Paulo Fonseca will be looking for his second win on the trot against Nantes
• Lille will fancy their chances, having beaten Nantes at their own home stadium in their last four home games

Lille will tonight be hoping to maintain their sizzling start to the new Ligue 1 season when they travel to play Nantes.

The former champions started the season on a right footing by sweeping aside Auxerre 4-1 last weekend. Their opponents meanwhile played out to a barren draw with Angers.

Team News

Nantes

Lafont; Castelletto, Girotto, Pallois; Coco, Sissoko, Chirivella, Merlin; Blas; Guessand, Simon

Rivals turned friends: Sergio Ramos showers rare praise on Paris Saint Germain teammate Lionel Messi

Football

Lille

Jardim; Zedadka, Fonte, Ribeiro, Djalo; Andre, Gomes; David, Cabella, Bamba; Bayo

Players to Watch

Nigerian Moses Simon will be the key man for Nantes after providing eight assists last season. Former Watford captain and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Moussa Sissoko is also expected to play his first home game for Nantes.

Meanwhile, Lille will look up to Canadian Jonathan David, who picked up from where left last season by grabbing a brace and an assist in their opening day triumph. David scored 15 goals in Ligue 1 last season. Remy Cabella and Jonathan Bamba are expected to partner him upfront.

Shy Lionel Messi smiles off fans chanting his name

Sports Brief had earlier reported that it was public knowledge that Lionel Messi is one of the best ever football players. Messi has continuously dominated headlines for all the right reasons.

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen salutes Dries Mertens as Belgian star leaves Italian side Napoli

Football

He has won a record seven Ballon d'Or's to underline his credentials. But the Argentine is not a big fan of the camera or the spotlight. In fact, there is a conspiracy that always goes around with some truth in it. Messi rarely conducts post-match interviews.

The Argentine is said to be one person who likes to keep to himself. His normal routine is train, play, rest, repeat. No extra sideshows. His Instagram account, despite having more than 350 million followers, is always restricted to the confines of his basic routine.