Share
Super Eagles winger, Moses Simon, will hope his 25th or more goal could help Nantes bounce back to winning ways in the Europa Leagye, after their 3-0 loss to Qarabag FK last time out in the competition, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Simon, who is in line to make his 11th appearance in the competition, will look to help Nantes end a seven-match away winless streak (W0 D2 L5) against Freiburg, who will be aiming to remain top of Group G.
The Nigerian forward will be eager to end his eight-year goal drought in the competition in the encounter.
The 25-year-old’s only goal in the Europa League came in Gent’s 5-2 loss against Shaktar Donetsk in a Group H encounter on March 11, 2016.
Having finished ninth last season, Les Canaries have found things much tougher this season, only picking up seven points from their first nine league games to sit in 16th position in Ligue 1.
Their 4-1 defeat to Monaco last Sunday extended their winless run in France to five matches, while their 3-0 defeat in Azerbaijan last time out in the Europa League has left them behind Qarabag on goals difference in Group G.
As such, Antoine Kombouare’s side could definitely do with gaining a positive result in Freiburg on Thursday, although they would still have more than enough time to rectify the situation should they fall to a defeat to their in-form opponents.
Nantes are competing in European football for the first time in more than 20 years as a result of winning the Coupe de France for only the fourth time in their history last season.
Meanwhile, Freiburg have continued to punch above their weight under the tutelage of Christian Streich, who has been in charge of the club since 2011, after finishing sixth and reaching the DFB-Pokal final for the first time in their history last season.
Breisgau-Brasilianer are embarking on their second Europa League group-stage appearance under Streich, and have won both matches so far to sit three points clear at the top of Group G ahead of Thursday’s (today) visit of Nantes to Europa-Park Stadion.
According to Tribune Nantias, Nantes have commenced talks with representatives of Simon to extend his contract beyond 2024, when his initial deal runs out.
The former Genk forward has been a subject of transfer speculations after a decent showing at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Cameroon.
It was even reported that he has agreed personal terms with another Ligue 1 club OGC Nice, but the deal fell through as the Southern France club failed to meet the player’s valuation by Nantes.
Simon made 30 Ligue 1 appearances last season, scoring six goals with eight assists.