On Sunday, Montpellier HSC, who sit bottom of the Ligue 1 table, will host 15th-placed Auxerre at the Stade de la Mosson in a clash between two teams currently struggling after four matches.
The hosts are yet to secure a win in the league, earning just one point, while the visitors have three points thanks to a single victory on the season's opening day.
Match preview
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Montpellier's recent seasons have seen a disappointing decline in the Ligue 1 standings, dropping from a sixth-placed finish in 2018-19 to back-to-back eighth-placed finishes from 2019 to 2021 to placing 13th once and 12th twice over the last three years.
Their start to this campaign suggests that Michel Der Zakarian's side may be headed for yet another bottom-half finish, as they currently sit at the bottom of the table after four matches.
Montpellier secured their only point of the season thanks to a 1-1 draw with Strasbourg on the opening day, but they then suffered three successive losses, conceding a staggering 12 goals while scoring just once in those games.
Der Zakarian's side will now enter this game aiming to avoid a fourth consecutive league defeat, something they have not done since a run of five straight losses in October 2022.
Auxerre will also be aiming to improve upon their shaky start to the term, currently sitting in 15th with just three points from their opening four Ligue 1 fixtures.
An inspiring comeback victory against Nice on the opening day, featuring a last-minute winner from Lasso Coulibaly after Rayan Raveloson's equaliser, seemed to signal a promising start for Auxerre.
However, Christophe Pelissier's side have since endured three consecutive losses, including significant defeats to potential relegation rivals Nantes and Le Havre.
Pelissier, who could not prevent Auxerre's relegation after joining during the 2022-23 season, will be aiming to improve on that performance and ensure the team stays in the league this year, something they have failed to accomplish since their disappointing drop in 2011-12.
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Team News
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The hosts are facing an injury crisis ahead of this match, with as many as nine players possibly sidelined due to various injury concerns.
Christopher Jullien is out until the new year with a cruciate ligament injury, while Kiki Kouyate, Mousa Al-Taamari, Othmane Maamma, Glenn Ngosso, Lucas Davin, Theo Luce, Issiaga Sylla and Joris Chotard are all also out.
Akor Adams and Teji Savanier remain the only two players to have scored for Montpellier this season, and the duo are expected to start in attack on Sunday.
As for the visitors, they are also carrying a significant number of injuries throughout their squad, potentially without five players due to injuries on Sunday.
Gideon Mensah, Ange Loic N'gatta, Saad Agouzoul and Nathan Buayi-Kiala are all set to miss out but could return in the coming weeks, while Coulibaly is out until May 2025 with a cruciate ligament injury.
Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:
Lecomte; Mbiayi, Dzodic, Sagnan, Sacko; Nzingoula, Fayad; Nordin, Savanier, Coulibaly; Adams
Auxerre possible starting lineup:
Leon; Joly, Jubal, Osho, Hoever; Owusu, Raveloson; Perrin, Traore, Sinayoko; Bair
We say: Montpellier HSC 1-1 Auxerre
Both sides have struggled in the early part of the 2024-25 Ligue 1 season, and neither will want to extend their losing streak to four matches, which suggests this match may end in a cautious 1-1 draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
