Nantes keep pressure on Lyon — and carry it into Europe
Two wins in four days have strengthened Nantes’ case at home and abroad.
FC Nantes are three points behind Lyon in Ligue 1 and fourth in the Champions League league-phase table. Their week explained why.
Eurico Tavares scored twice in a 3–1 league win over Nîmes, then opened the scoring after six minutes as Olympiacos were beaten 2–0 in Europe. Antonio Mba added the second after 24 minutes.
Lyon remain leaders in France with 50 points from 19 matches, but Nantes are on 47 and Sochaux on 46. This is not a pursuit built on domestic form alone. Nantes have 18 Champions League points from seven games and a goal difference of plus eight. The useful quality in their season is continuity: the same front-foot confidence is appearing in two competitions, with Tavares supplying the latest bridge between them.