On the back of contrasting results in the Coupe de France, Montpellier HSC and Lyon return to Ligue 1 duty at the Stade de la Mosson on Sunday afternoon.
The two sides are neck-and-neck in the standings with 19 points apiece, although the hosts sit two places above their improving opponents courtesy of a superior goal difference.
Match preview
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Since 2024 rolled around, the Coupe de France has offered Montpellier sweet relief from their Ligue 1 predicament, but La Paillade's shot at knockout glory crashed and burned with a chastening 4-1 home loss to Nice in Wednesday's last-16 tie.
A nightmare 75 minutes for Michel Der Zakarian's crop saw Youssouf Ndayishimiye, Tom Louchet, Mohamed-Ali Cho and Alexis Claude-Maurice all breach their backline before Marcin Bulka denied Junior Ndiaye from the penalty spot, although a meaningless consolation would arrive in the form of Modibo Sagnan's header.
Four days before shipping four to Les Aiglons in the Coupe de France, Montpellier were also left to rue a dismal start to their latest Ligue 1 encounter with Rennes, who strode into a two-goal lead thanks to Martin Terrier and Arnaud Kalimuendo before long-serving stalwart Teji Savanier cut the deficit in half.
Acquiring just two points from their last four Ligue 1 fixtures and only winning one of their last 11 matches in the top tier, La Paillade are sleepwalking towards trouble as they languish in 13th place in the table, only separated from the automatic drop zone by a three-point buffer.
Failure to convert draws into victories on home soil is mostly to blame for their Ligue 1 plight, as while Montpellier have only been beaten twice at the Stade de la Mosson this term, they have shared the spoils in seven of their 10 fixtures in front of their own fans, including each of their last four.
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It will come as no surprise to learn that La Paillade have played out more home draws than any other team in the French top flight this season, while imminent foes Lyon only have one stalemate to show from nine away affairs, another six of which have seen Les Gones come out on the losing side.
In fact, Lyon are on a 13-game draw-less run in all competitions, but since Pierre Sage assumed office at the Groupama Stadium, the seven-time Ligue 1 champions have eased fans' fears of an unfathomable demotion to Ligue 2, triumphing in seven of their last nine across the league and cup.
Two of those successes have arrived in their last two contests, as prior to eliminating Lille from the Coupe de France with a 2-1 victory on home soil, Lyon bested bitter rivals Marseille 1-0 in the latest iteration of the Choc des Olympiques thanks to an improvised Alexandre Lacazette finish - his 10th goal of the Ligue 1 season.
It was a day for the erstwhile Arsenal men to make headlines last Saturday, as a trademark Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang chip very nearly stole a point for Marseille, but Ainsley Maitland-Niles hooked his former teammate's attempt off the line to move 15th-placed Lyon three points clear of the automatic relegation spots.
However, notching a joint-low six goals in Ligue 1 away games will not have Les Gones' confidence brimming ahead of Sunday's game, nor will the fact that Montpellier ran out 4-1 winners at the Grouapama Stadium earlier this season, but Lyon's last two visits to the Stade de la Mosson have both ended in victory.
Team News
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Two Montpellier international representatives will finish their Africa Cup of Nations and Asian Cup commitments this weekend, as DR Congo goalkeeper Dimitry Bertaud battles for third place in the former tournament, while Musa Al-Taamari seeks to make history with Jordan in the Asian Cup final.
Nigerian attacker Akor Adams - supposedly on the radar of Chelsea - is another likely absentee for La Paillade due to a back injury, while winger Arnaud Nordin is struggling with a thigh concern and should not make the cut either.
Skipper Savanier reportedly exited the Coupe de France clash with Nice at half time due to an injury of his own, leaving the 32-year-old at risk of failing to make a starting XI for the first time in Ligue 1 this season, but there is currently nothing to suggest that he will not be available.
Meanwhile, Lyon's upturn in form has unsurprisingly coincided with a near-empty treatment room, as only Johann Lepenant - who is battling back from a sprained knee - is confined to the medical bay at the time of writing.
With Lacazette rested in the Coupe de France beating of Lille, Rayan Cherki - who was an unused substitute during the success over Marseille - and January signing Gift Orban took it upon themselves to supply the goals, meaning both could be rewarded with starting roles this weekend.
Ernest Nuamah would be the one to drop out of the first XI for the returning Lacazette in that scenario, while fellow winter arrivals Nemanja Matic and Orel Mangala will fight it out to get the nod in the middle of the park.
Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:
Lecomte; Tchato, Jullien, Omeragic, Sagnan, Sylla; Fayad, Chotard, Savanier, Coulibaly; Khazri
Lyon possible starting lineup:
Lopes; Mata, Caleta-Car, O'Brien; Maitland-Niles, Matic, Caqueret, Tagliafico; Cherki, Lacazette, Orban
We say: Montpellier HSC 0-1 Lyon
Assuming the role of stalemate specialists at home, Montpellier are seldom outfought on their own patch - barring their midweek cup humiliation - and a Lyon side also nursing jellied legs will not have it all their own way at the Stade de la Mosson.
Making the net ripple on the road has been an issue for Les Gones all season long, but with Sage instilling a newfound sense of defensive discipline into his crop, a solitary strike may be enough for the visitors to continue their climb away from the drop zone, leapfrogging their out-of-sorts hosts in the process.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Knapton
