Preview: Lorient vs. Clermont - prediction, team news, lineups

After collecting four points from their opening two games, Lorient will look to continue their unbeaten start to the season when they play host to Clermont on Sunday.

Clermont, meanwhile, will be aiming to clinch a third consecutive victory after beating Reims and Nice in their last two matches.

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Match preview

Lorient will face Clermont on Sunday in their first home match of the season, after their scheduled home game against Lyon was postponed a couple of weeks ago due to an unsafe pitch.

Although both of their Ligue 1 games have taken place away from home, Lorient have begun the season in fine form, collecting four points thanks to a win over Reims and a draw against Toulouse.

An Arthur Theate own goal proved enough to help Lorient beat Reims 1-0 on the opening weekend of the campaign before facing Toulouse last weekend.

Armand Lauriente gave Lorient the lead in the sixth minute, but after conceding two goals, they looked set to lose for the first time this season.

However, Ibrahima Kone dispatched his spot kick in the 80th minute to rescue a point for his side, while also extending their current unbeaten away run in Ligue 1 to four games.

Meanwhile, Clermont have played one more game than their hosts, and they enter Sunday's contest off the back of consecutive victories.

They began the season with a heavy 5-0 defeat to French champions Paris Saint-Germain, but they responded with a 4-2 win over Reims on matchday two.

Despite trailing by two goals against Reims, a Komnen Andric brace and strikes from Muhammed Saracevic and Jeremie Bela helped Clermont clinch their first win of the season.

Another victory followed last weekend, with a sixth-minute effort from Saif-Eddine Khaoui guiding his side to a narrow 1-0 win over Nice.

After winning their last two matches, Clermont have the chance to claim three consecutive victories for the first time in Ligue 1 this weekend.

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Team News

Lorient are unable to call upon Igor Silva, who has not featured this season due to a hamstring injury.

After featuring as a second-half substitute last weekend, Julien Ponceau could be given a place in the starting lineup for Sunday's contest.

Ponceau could be joined in the starting XI by Ibrahima Kone, who came off the bench to score the equaliser against Toulouse.

As for the visitors, they will be without the services of Elba Rashani and Mehdi Zeffane, who are sidelined with head and hamstring injuries.

After beating Nice last weekend, Pascal Gastien could be tempted to name an unchanged lineup for Sunday's contest.

Having scored two goals this season, Andric will be looking to add to his tally when he leads the line for Clermont.

Lorient possible starting lineup:

Mvogo; Kalulu, Talbi, Laporte, Le Goff; Abergel, Le Fee; Ouattara, Ponceau, Lauriente; Kone

Clermont possible starting lineup:

Diaw; Seidu, Wieteska, Ogier, Borges; Gastien, Gonalons; Khaoui, Cham, Allevinah; Andric

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We say: Lorient 1-1 Clermont

Although Clermont have won their last two matches, we think that they will have to settle for a point against a Lorient side who have avoided defeat in their opening two games.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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