Montpellier vs Auxerre Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 French Ligue 1
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This is a massive game down at the bottom end of the Ligue 1 table with Montpellier, strugglers for the last few seasons, now taking on an Auxerre side that, following promotion last season, were always expected to struggle.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday 22nd September, 2024 - UK – 4:00pm / US ET – 11:00am / US PT – 8:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports
MONTPELLIER PREVIEW: PRESSURE ON DER ZAKARIAN
Under the management of Armenian coach Michel Der Zakarian, Montpellier Herault finished in the middle-of-the-table last season but were often really underwhelming, despite the occasional thriller. The expectation is that they get dragged down in towards the bottom three and the relegation zone this season.
The home team have started the 2024/25 Ligue 1 campaign with just one point collected in their opening four matches as they sit rock-bottom in the French top-flight. The home team come into this one on the back of a 3-0 hammering to Stade Rennais in their most recent outing, last weekend.
AUXERRE PREVIEW: AUXERRE ON THE PUSH
Following promotion to the top-flight last season, Auxerre have shown signs that they can be competitive and began this season with an impressive 2-1 defeat of a strong and fairly big spending Nice side on the opening weekend of the campaign with a winning goal coming in second-half stoppage-time.
Since that victory, they have now suffered three successive defeats and have sunk down the table towards the bottom. Their most recent outing saw them host an impressive Monaco side and suffer a 3-0 hammering with goals coming from Thilo Kehrer, Vanderson and Denis Zakaria for the visitors.
MONTPELLIER TEAM NEWS: KEY INJURY ISSUES
Montpellier have a couple of injury absentees for this one with Kiki Kouyate and Theo Sainte-Luce among the first-teamers unavailable as well as Issiaga Sylla and Mousa Al Tamari.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Lecomte; Tchato, Dzodic, Sagnan, Sacko; Nzingoula, Fayad; Nordin, Savanier, Coulibaly; Adams
UNAVAILABLE: Mincarelli (Injured), Kouyate (Injured), Maamma (Injured), Sainte-Luce (Injured), Chotard (Injured), Sylla (Injured), Al Tamari (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
AUXERRE TEAM NEWS: AUXERRE INJURIES
Auxerre are dealing with quite a few injury concerns this week as they travel to Montpellier. Summer signing Lasso Coulibaly is sidelined alongside the likes of Gideon Mensah.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Leon; Diomande, Jubal, Osho; Joly, Owusu, Raveloson, Akpa; Traore, Perrin; Sinayoko
UNAVAILABLE: Mensah (Injured), Camara (Injured), N’Gatta (Injured), Coulibaly (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
MONTPELLIER VS AUXERRE PREDICTION
Montpellier Herault were often involved in some entertaining games last season with Michel Der Zakarian’s side often quite front foot throughout last season but that has left them open and weak this season. They face an Auxerre side that will pick their moments to attack and, to be frank, this is a game they should fancy themselves so both teams scoring may well be a good bet for this one.
MONTPELLIER VS AUXERRE TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
