Troyes vs Montpellier prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-02-18 14:00.
This is proving to be a torrid campaign for Troyes, who enter this game with just one win from their previous 15 Ligue 1 matches (D6, L8), bookended by a dire 4-0 defeat to Reims last time out. As a consequence, ESTAC are looking anxiously over their shoulder as they find themselves just one point clear of the relegation zone ahead of this round, with coach Patrick Kisnorbo stating post-match that he wanted to "apologise to the fans".
Kisnorbo's apologies haven’t appeared to calm supporters, who showed their frustrations after that latest loss. A win against fellow relegation contenders Montpellier at Stade de l'Aube would be the best way to ease the tension, especially as Troyes have proven hard to beat here with only heavyweights Marseille and Lyon getting the better of them since mid-August (W1, D7, L2).
For his comeback game in charge of Montpellier after being sacked by Brest in October, coach Michel Der Zakarian exacted revenge as his team defeated his former employers 3-0 last weekend. They now find themselves five points above the relegation zone ahead of this round with Montpellier midfielder TĂ©ji Savanier praising the return of "Der Zak", saying "he has the Paillade mentality".
The challenge will be huge here for Der Zakarian however, as he has never won his first away league game with a new club as a coach (D4, L2), including a 1-0 loss at Toulouse during his first term at Montpellier in 2017. On a more positive note, Le MHSC make this trip after avoiding defeat in their previous five top-flight visits to Troyes (W2, D3), with their last H2H loss here dating back to 2002!
Players to watch: Troyes’ Rony Lopes will be one to watch as he has been directly involved in four of his team’s last six home goals (G3, A1). Strasbourg might look to Savanier for a quick start as he scored more goals in the opening 15 minutes than any other Ligue 1 player (three).
Hot stat: Troyes have lost more points after the 75th minute than any other Ligue 1 side this season (eight).