NÎMES, France (Interstat) — Nîmes and Istres renew their National 2 rivalry Saturday, May 9, with both sides looking to finish the season on a high note. The match at Stade des Costières kicks off at a time to be announced.

Istres enter the fixture with momentum, having gone unbeaten in their last four league matches. Their most recent outing was a 0-0 draw at home against Créteil-Lusitanos on May 1. That result extended a streak that includes a 2-2 draw at Grasse on April 25 and a 1-0 win over FC 93 Bobigny-Bagnolet-Gagny on April 17. The run followed a 2-2 draw at Toulon on April 11 and a 4-0 thrashing of Fréjus St-Raphaël on April 3.

In the reverse fixture this season, on Jan. 17, Istres defeated Nîmes 2-0 at home. That result is part of a broader head-to-head picture that favors the visitors, though Nîmes have shown strong form in recent weeks.

Nîmes, meanwhile, are coming off a heavy 4-1 loss at Andrézieux on May 2 — their worst result of the campaign. Before that, they had won three straight: a 3-0 victory at Cannes on April 25, a 2-1 win at Hyères on April 18, and a 2-1 triumph over Rousset-Ste Victoire on April 4. That stretch followed a 2-1 defeat to St Maur Lusitanos on April 11, but overall Nîmes have won six of their last eight matches.

The simulation tool Interstat projects a 1-1 draw between the teams. Given Nîmes’ home advantage and Istres’ recent resilience, a tight contest is expected.

Both clubs are vying for favorable positioning in the National 2 table. Istres’ next match is at home against Grand Ouest Association Lyonnaise FC on May 16, while Nîmes travel to Limonest the same day.

Key players to watch include Istres’ disciplined defense, which has kept two clean sheets in their last five matches. Nîmes will rely on their attack, which has scored at least two goals in seven of their last 10 games.

Saturday’s match will test Nîmes’ ability to rebound from the Andrézieux setback and Istres’ consistency on the road. With only one game left after this, both teams have an opportunity to build momentum heading into the final week of the season.