Montpellier vs Reims prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2022-11-12 14:00.
Two clubs with caretaker managers will meet when Montpellier welcomes Reims. La Paillade’s winless league run was extended to six games (D1, L5) after a 1-1 draw to Clermont in the previous round, although stopping the rot of five consecutive defeats will have been a relief. Montpellier will still be desperate to avoid losing this contest as defeat could plunge them into 18th place, which would mark the first time they’ve sat so low after 15 games since 1999/2000!
Fill-in Montpellier boss Romain Pitau declared his objective was “to rediscover the Paillade Spirit’’, but he has failed to win any of his three games in charge so far (D1, L2), and it won’t be easy to lift the mood against a side they haven’t beaten here in their last three attempts (D1, L2). If they go behind early, it could spell disaster, as Montpellier have lost eight of their last nine home Ligue 1 games when conceding first (D1)!
Pitau will meet 29-year-old William Still, a manager with a more unorthodox rise to the top, which he partly puts down to video gaming, boasting: "I actually think people that play Football Manager understand the game a bit more’’. The young interim manager continues to tweak and fine-tune Reims’ defensive settings with great effect, as the club has conceded just one goal across his four games in charge!
Still would be wishing he could sign someone like Kylian Mbappé with a few clicks, as Reims’ defensive solidity continues to come at the cost of goals on their travels. The visiting side has now failed to score in three of their last four away Ligue 1 outings (D3, L1). Yet, if Still can convert those draws into wins it may see Reims’ season skyrocket as no side had drawn more games than them after 14 rounds of this Ligue 1 campaign (seven).
Players to watch: Elye Wahi has been an all-action player for Montpellier recently, picking up three goals and three cautions in his last six appearances, whilst Folarin Balogun’s last four league goals this season have been match openers with Reims also avoiding defeat on each occasion (W2, D2).
Hot streak: Reims have drawn their last three away Ligue 1 games – another one here would mark four for the first time in the top flight this century!