PSG vs Montpellier Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 French Ligue 1
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After a difficult opening half of the season, defending champions Paris Saint-Germain eventually enjoyed an impressive 4-1 hammering of Le Havre last week, whilst Montpellier started steadily with an opening day draw.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Friday 23rd August, 2024 - UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 11:45am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TBC / US – beIN Sports, beIN Sports en Espanol
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – TBC / US – Fubo, Fanatiz
PSG PREVIEW: THE NEW ERA OF PSG
With a new look squad that lacks the star power of the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi; there is a theory and thought process that Luis Enrique will be able to implement his style of football in the French capital with a bit more ease and that was shown well in the second-half at Stade Oceane against Le Havre.
PSG and likely relegation battlers Le Havre were level at one apiece just after half-time with goals being scored by Lee Kang-in and then Gautier Lloris. PSG then pulled away in the closing minutes of the match with strikes from attackers Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola and then a penalty by Randal Kolo Muani.
MONTPELLIER PREVIEW: UNDER THREAT
Under the management of Armenian coach Michel Der Zakarian, Montpellier Herault are, like the aforementioned Le Havre, expected to struggle this season after finishing in mid-table last year but the second season of an 18-team Ligue 1 should mean the bottom-half becomes ever more competitive and congested.
The visitors began the 2024/25 Ligue 1 season with a 1-1 draw at home to Strasbourg at Stade de la Mosson. Strasbourg took the lead in the 58th minute of the match via Habib Diarra before Montpellier’s key man, Teji Savanier, notched an equaliser from the penalty spot about ten minutes later.
PSG TEAM NEWS: DEFENSIVE ISSUES
PSG were caught out from a set-piece last week against Le Havre and they do have a couple of defensive injury issues with long-term absentee Presnel Kimpembe still unavailable alongside compatriot Lucas Hernandez.
Luis Enrique will be glad that four attacking players got off the goal scoring mark on the opening day with Portuguese international striker Goncalo Ramos expected to be sidelined with an ankle injury until mid-November.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Beraldo, Willian Pacho, Zague; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Marco Asensio; Dembele, Kolo Muani, Lee
UNAVAILABLE: Kimpembe (Injured), Hernandez (Injured), Ramos (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
MONTPELLIER TEAM NEWS: STILL NO KHAZRI
Montpellier will be reliant on the aforementioned Teji Savanier this season with former Sunderland man Wahbi Khazri still out with a muscle injury that saw him miss the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
Aside from the Tunisian international being sidelined, though, there are no other injuries or suspensions so Montpellier will be able to name an unchanged eleven for this weekend.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Lecomte; Tchato, Omeragic, Sagnan, Sacko; Chotard, Ferri; Nordin, Savanier, Al-Tamari; Adams
UNAVAILABLE: Khazri (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
PSG VS MONTPELLIER PREDICTION
There are expected to be some challengers to PSG’s Ligue 1 crown this season with Olympique de Marseille showing some real quality in their 5-1 hammering of Stade Brest and other teams, Olympique Lyonnais despite a 3-0 loss to Stade Rennais among the chasers, and they did find it difficult at times against Le Havre but, despite the loss of star names, they still have an abundance of talent in attack and another comfortable home win is to be expected.
PSG VS MONTPELLIER TIP: PSG TO WIN -1 HANDICAP
