Nantes 2–5 Rodez | Ligue 2, 22 August 2026

Result Summary

In a remarkable and thoroughly entertaining Ligue 2 fixture at the Stade de la Beaujoire, Rodez produced a stunning second-half comeback to dismantle Nantes 5–2, inflicting a chastening home defeat on Michel Der Zakarian's side. Despite Nantes holding a two-goal advantage at one stage, Didier Santini's Rodez side demonstrated extraordinary resilience and clinical finishing to seal a memorable away victory.

Match Analysis

Nantes began the brighter of the two sides, with Kilian Corredor announcing himself emphatically in the opening exchanges. The forward broke the deadlock inside four minutes, finishing from a Mathieu Cafaro assist, before adding a second in the 24th minute — this time set up by Wilitty Younoussa — to give the hosts a commanding 2–1 lead. In between, Ibrahima Baldé had pulled one back for Rodez at the 15-minute mark, assisted by Ryan Ponti, ensuring there was already an edge of tension even in that early spell.

Despite holding 59% possession and maintaining a solid 87% successful pass percentage, Nantes were unable to translate their territorial dominance into further goals. Their 14 key passes to Rodez's impressive 14 told a more even story in dangerous areas than the possession figures suggested. Rodez, working with just 41% of the ball, were far more potent on the counter — registering 48 dangerous attacks compared to Nantes' 39, and generating 16 total shots to Nantes' 14.

The turning point came immediately after half-time. Ryan Ponti levelled at 2–2 in the 47th minute with a composed left-foot finish, shifting the entire complexion of the contest. Nantes, having lost Corredor to a half-time substitution with Dehmaine Assoumani coming on, struggled to reassert control.

The match then reached its decisive phase between the 71st and 72nd minutes, when Ibrahima Baldé struck twice in rapid succession, both assisted by Raphaël Lipinski, to put Rodez 4–2 ahead. The double-strike — two right-foot finishes within sixty seconds — was a devastating blow to Nantes, and Baldé was booked shortly afterwards for unsportsmanlike conduct, a yellow card that perhaps reflected the heightened tensions. Rodez made further changes, introducing Kenny Nagera and Octave Joly, as they comfortably managed the closing stages. A late own goal from Saidou Sow in the 90+5th minute rounded off a miserable evening for Nantes, completing the 5–2 scoreline.

Mathieu Cafaro and Wilitty Younoussa both received yellow cards for Nantes as frustrations mounted, while Rodez's discipline was similarly tested, collecting three bookings including one for Baldé following his brace.

Prediction Review

Our pre-match forecast placed Nantes as marginal favourites at 52%, with a predicted scoreline of 1–0, reflecting the home advantage and Nantes' presumed quality in the second tier. The prediction was incorrect — and in emphatic fashion. A confidence level of just 56/100 rightly signalled uncertainty, but even that modest conviction underestimated Rodez's attacking threat and Nantes' structural vulnerabilities once the momentum shifted. Baldé's hat-trick and Rodez's clinical edge on the counter were factors that the model underweighted.

Key Takeaways

• Ibrahima Baldé was the decisive figure, netting a hat-trick that turned this game on its head
• Nantes' possession-heavy approach (59%) failed to yield results once Rodez found their second-half rhythm
• Rodez's 14 key passes underlined their effectiveness in the final third despite limited possession
• Der Zakarian's side will need to address their fragility immediately after conceding, particularly in transitions
• Rodez travel home with a massive six-point-equivalent statement in Ligue 2 promotion conversations