Wind and circumstance prevented either fleet from forming a perfectly ordered line. Villeneuve had fought Nelson at the Nile and studied how the British commander attacked, so he was not tactically unaware. He appears to have wanted a reaction force rather than relying entirely on a rigid battle line. The difficulty was turning that idea into action when the combined fleet lacked a formation, and perhaps a subordinate commander, Villeneuve could trust to counter the British columns.
Notable Point · 9:20-10:06
Villeneuve expected Nelson's attack - but lacked a reaction force
Knowing Nelson's likely approach was not enough: wind, an uneven formation, and the absence of a trusted reserve limited Villeneuve's response.