Montpellier vs Angers prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-03-04 14:00.
While a run of five Ligue 1 losses in their opening six games of 2023 (W1) saw interim boss Romain Pitau’s time at Montpellier come to an end, Michel Der Zakarian’s second coming as manager has completely turned the club around. La Paillade were at risk of getting dragged into the relegation scrap, but Der Zakarian has alleviated those pressures after avoiding defeat in his first three Ligue 1 matches back in the hot seat (W2, D1).
Montpellier may look to re-implement their all or nothing approach then, since their 1-1 draw with Lens last time out was only their third stalemate of the season, a joint league-low. The Stade de la Mosson faithful will hope their troops keep up the good work from their last two home matches (W1, D1), as they look to go unbeaten in three successive league matches on their own turf for the first time since October 2021.
Meanwhile, all hopes of survival seem lost at Angers, who sit at the foot of the table after a 17th successive Ligue 1 match without a win (D2, L15). It’s no wonder then that their 19 league defeats is the most across Europe’s top-five leagues this season, although they could consider their date with Montpellier as a potential reprieve, given two of their last three Ligue 1 victories have come against their hosts.
But both of those victories came at home for the Black and Whites, with their last two away H2Hs ending in crushing 4-1 defeats. Despite the hefty scorelines, they’ll be encouraged they got onto the scoresheet, which is something Abdel Bouhazama’s men have failed to do in six of their last seven away league matches.
Players to watch: Montpellier’s Arnaud Nordin has seen all his four goals this term serve as his side’s opener, including in this season’s reverse fixture. Angers’ Adrien Hunou also got on the scoresheet that day to take his tally against Montpellier to four, only scoring more goals against Strasbourg (five).
Hot stat: Montpellier (16) and Angers (15) have seen the first and second highest number of goals scored in the first 15 minutes of games this Ligue 1 season.