Lorient vs Angers – News and Probable Lineups

Lorient has the opportunity to break into the top half of the Ligue 1 standings with a victory on Sunday when they host Angers at Stade du Moustoir in Brittany.

Currently, after 21 matchdays, Les Merlus sit in 11th place, coming off a 2-0 defeat to Brest last week, while Angers has climbed one point ahead into ninth following an intense 1-0 win over Toulouse.

Match overview

Last week marked the first time in 2026 that Lorient finished a league match without earning a point, also unable to find the net for the first time this year.

The loss to arch-rivals Stade Brestois ended a streak of 12 matches unbeaten for Olivier Pantaloni’s squad across all competitions, though they had secured five consecutive victories prior to that setback.

While that unbeaten streak has been broken, they can still extend their home unbeaten run to ten matches on Sunday, having won their last two competitive fixtures at home in Lorient.

Despite last week’s defeat, European qualification remains in reach for this squad, which enters matchday 22 just three points shy of Rennes for a spot in next season’s Conference League.

During the current 2025-26 season, Lorient has scored in every home match, netting three or more goals on four occasions.

Les Merlus have not lost in their previous five league encounters with Les Scoistes at Stade du Moustoir, managing to keep clean sheets in their last three meetings.

As February begins, Angers appear to have regained the solid defensive form they exhibited during the latter part of the previous year.

Alexandre Dujeux’s side allowed one or fewer goals in four of their last five Ligue 1 matches in 2025 and will enter Sunday aiming for a fourth straight clean sheet in this competition.

They are looking to extend their points streak to four matches this weekend, which would mark their longest unbeaten run in the current season.

Angers have dropped points in two consecutive league contests away from home, but they have only suffered one defeat in their last four such matches (2-1 at Le Havre).

A win this weekend would match their longest winning streak from the previous season when they achieved three consecutive victories in January 2025.

Les Socistes have taken points in four of their last five matches against Lorient, and on Sunday, they could secure victories in both domestic encounters in the same season for the first time since the 2004-05 Ligue 2 campaign.

Team News

Bandiougou Fadiga is unlikely to participate for Lorient this weekend due to a groin strain, while Abdoulaye Faye is considered doubtful because of a hamstring issue.

Between matchdays 21 and 22, Pantaloni made two adjustments to his starting XI, introducing Nathaniel Adjei and Arthur Ebong Avon in place of Igor Silva and Noah Cadiou.

In terms of injuries at Angers, there is only one concern leading into this weekend as Lanroy Machine is questionable with a leg issue.

Lilian Raolisoa scored just before the 90th minute last Sunday to secure his team’s maximum points, while Herve Koffi recorded seven saves for his eighth clean sheet of the Ligue 1 season.

Lorient probable starting XI:

Mvogo; Adjei, Talbi, Silver; Le Bris, Cadiou, Abergel, Kouassi; Makengo, Country; Dieng

Angers probable starting XI:

Coffee; Arcus, Camara, Lefort, Ekomie; Mouton, of the Trees; Raolisoa, Belkhdim, Sbai; Koyalipou

Both teams display exceptional organization and discipline defensively, making breakthroughs difficult for most of the year, and we anticipate neither will find a way through this weekend.