Monaco vs Montpellier Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 French Ligue 1
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Tucked inside the top three once again ahead of this weekend’s round of fixtures, Monaco face Montpellier Herault at Stade Louis II looking to put the pressure on Paris Saint-Germain with Montpellier wanting to make it clear they aren’t relegation cannon fodder.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 28th September, 2024 - UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT - 12:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports
MONACO PREVIEW: FOOT ON THE GAS FOR THE MONAGASQUE
Under the management of former Borussia Monchengladbach boss Adi Hutter, Monaco have enjoyed an entertaining start, much like last year. It has also, though, been very effective and impressive as they look like a side that can mount a genuine title challenge, beginning this weekend level on points with both PSG and Olympique de Marseille.
Monaco come into this weekend having managed five victories and a draw in six matches across all competitions since winning the Joan Gamper Trophy before the campaign against Barcelona in Catalonia. Their most recent outing saw them ease past Le Havre by three goals to one at the weekend.
MONTPELLIER PREVIEW: BIG WIN LAST WEEK
Last weekend, Montpellier Herault pulled off a much-needed and entertaining 3-2 victory over newly-promoted Auxerre at Stade de la Mosson. They fell behind early in the first-half to a strike from Hamed Junior Traore before quick-fire goals in the second-half saw them led. Auxerre responded almost immediately before Montpellier struck back quickly once again.
Armenian coach Michel Der Zakarian did produce some entertaining matches involving Montpellier last season as they finished 11th but they will be concerned about being dragged into a dogfight this year with a relatively average squad in the second season since the league was condensed from 20 to 18 teams.
MONACO TEAM NEWS: COUPLE OF INJURIES
Monaco are in excellent form at the moment so will not want to change too much and there are no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues for them to deal with this weekend.
They do still have a couple of absentees for the visit of Montpellier, though, with the likes of Radoslaw Majecki and Edan Diop both unavailable for the hosts.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Kohn; Teze, Singo, Kehrer, Caio Henrique; Minamino, Magassa, Camara, Golovin; Balogun, Ilenikhena
UNAVAILABLE: Majecki (Injured), Diop (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
MONTPELLIER TEAM NEWS: STILL NO AL TAMARI
Key attacker from last season Mousa Al Tamari remains unavailable for Montpellier this weekend alongside the likes of Issiaga Sylla, Theo Sainte-Luce and Joris Chotard.
After a victory last weekend there are no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues so they will be able to name an unchanged eleven to face Monaco this weekend.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Bertaud; Sacko, Omeragic, Sagnan, Mincarelli; Nzingoula, Fayad; Nordin, Savanier, Issoufou; Adams
UNAVAILABLE: Maamma (Injured), Sylla (Injured), Chotard (Injured), Sainte-Luce (Injured), Al Tamari (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
MONACO VS MONTPELLIER PREDICTION
Monaco are a genuinely really impressive side. Barcelona have won six out of six in La Liga playing a magnificent style of football and yet Monaco didn’t only beat them in pre-season but also in the UEFA Champions League last week. Montpellier have been capable of not being blown away and managed to get themselves an important win last weekend but there does appear a major gulf between the two sides for this one.
MONACO VS MONTPELLIER TIP: MONACO TO WIN -1 HANDICAP
