Both aiming to distance themselves from trouble near the bottom of the league standings, Montpellier HSC and Strasbourg will do battle at Stade de la Mosson-Mondial 98 on Sunday afternoon in Ligue 1.
La Paillade find themselves in an unlikely relegation scrap following a woeful run of form, while Strasbourg are also teetering on the edge of top-flight safety.
Match preview
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Montpellier now tasted defeat in three of their last four Ligue 1 matches after losing 4-1 away at Orange Velodrome against a Europe-chasing Marseille side last time out, although the story could have turned out a whole lot different versus Les Olympiens as Musa Al-Taamari's strike handed the visitors a shock lead.
Unfortunately for La Paillade, the Jordan international's opener was nowhere near enough to secure a rare success on the road, with a brace from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, a strike from former Sheffield United man Iliman Ndiaye and an own goal from Falaye Sacko sealing a comfortable success for the hosts.
After 13th and 12th-placed finishes in the previous two campaigns, Michel Der Zakarian's men are staring at the possibility of relegation to Ligue 2 this time around, with Sunday's hosts currently 15th in the Ligue 1 standings, ahead of 16th-placed Lorient on goal difference.
With worries of an unlikely demotion to the second tier brewing amongst the fanbase, tensions are beginning to rise within the first-team squad as seen at Montpellier's open-training session earlier this week, when Yann Karamoh and Jordan Ferri were involved in a physical altercation, forcing teammates to separate the arguing duo.
Hopefully the pair have resolved their differences by Sunday afternoon, when La Paillade will be looking to record back-to-back home successes in Ligue 1 for the first time in the 2023-24 season after smashing relegation-threatened Metz 3-0 at Stade de la Mosson-Mondial 98 on February 18.
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Strasbourg's quest for a fourth Coupe de France crown came to a heartbreaking end at Lyon's Groupama Stadium on Tuesday night, when a penalty miss from Lucas Perrin was enough to send the hosts through to the semi-finals following a goalless 90 minutes of normal time between the sides.
Focus for the remainder of the term will now turn towards Ligue 1 matters, with Patrick Vieira's charges suffering three-straight defeats in recent weeks, scoring just twice and conceding an eye-watering nine goals in the process as their place in the top flight becomes less secure.
The Strasbourg backline - and particularly goalkeeper Alaa Bellaarouch - will still be having nightmares of Brest attacker Mahdi Camara, with the 25-year-old bagging a sensational hat-trick against Les Alsaciens during a 3-0 victory for the second-placed club last Saturday.
With Vieira's men sliding towards the foot of the Ligue 1 standings, the majority of the blame is being passed onto the club's owners, with the BlueCo group seeming to neglect the needs of the squad in the January window, allowing captain Matz Sels to leave for Nottingham Forest without securing a suitable replacement.
Strasbourg used their Chelsea links to recruit a young talent from Stamford Bridge during the winter trading point, with Brazilian youngster Andrey Santos joining following a failed loan spell in Nottingham, although the 19-year-old is yet to make his full debut for Les Alsaciens.
Team News
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After losing the services of centre-back Maxime Esteve to Burnley during January, Montpellier are utilising a new-look back three of Kiki Kouyate, Modibo Sagnan and Sacko.
La Paillade are short of options for their backline due to the foot injury of Becir Omeragic, though, with the Switzerland international expected back later this month.
There is a less-promising timescale of recovery for Axel Gueguin, however, with the 18-year-old sidelined for the rest of the campaign because of a cruciate ligament injury.
Owing to the same issue, Strasbourg will be unable to call upon the talents of Karol Fila until early May, meaning that he faces a battle to feature again this season.
Lebo Mothiba netted three Ligue 1 goals for Les Alsaciens before suffering a serious knee injury in December, and the South African is a doubt for Sunday afternoon.
Vieira will be without the services of Dion Sahi due to a groin injury, so the likes of Emanuel Emegha and Kevin Gameiro will continue up front.
Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:
Lecomte; Sacko, Kouyate, Sagnan; Hetfi, Ferri, Savanier, Sylla, Chotard; Adams, Al-Taamari
Strasbourg possible starting lineup:
Bellaarouch; Senaya, Sow, Perrin, Guilbert; Gabriel, Santos, Sissoko, Doukoure; Gameiro, Emegha
We say: Montpellier HSC 3-1 Strasbourg
Montpellier collapsed during the defeat at Marseille last time out, but La Paillade should be confident of beating a Strasbourg side who are in turmoil on and off the field.
Les Alsaciens have leaked plenty of goals during their recent Ligue 1 matches, and we are expecting a similar story for Vieira's men on Sunday afternoon.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
