Montpellier vs Toulouse prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-10-28 14:00.
The abandonment of Montpellier’s last Ligue 1 home game against Clermont due to crowd trouble as they were leading 4-2 in second-half stoppage time – and the subsequent decision to replay the fixture – means La Paillade are still yet to taste victory at the Stade de la Mosson this season. A subsequent one-point deduction also means that they now sit above the relegation play-off spot by virtue of goal difference alone ahead of the round.
Montpellier may go into Sunday’s clash with Toulouse feeling on the back foot then, especially as they lost both meetings with their upcoming opponents last term. La Paillade won their prior four H2Hs during boss Michel Der Zakarian’s previous spell in charge between 2017 and 2021 which will raise spirits at least, even if the Armenian boss will have to do it without Mamadou Sakho, after the centre-back was suspended by the club for his part in a training-ground bust-up with his boss.
Toulouse have recorded the joint-most draws in the division this campaign, but will perhaps wonder what might have been after squandering a two-goal lead against Clermont, as well as conceding a 92nd-minute equaliser in their last away outing against Brest. As a neutral, matches involving Carles MartĂnez Novell’s side are definitely worth staying to the end for, with seven goals scored in the 81st minute onwards so far this season – second in the league only to Nantes.
In order to gain ground on the teams above them, a clean-sheet win would be welcome for the Coupe de France holders, especially after a 5-1 drubbing suffered at Liverpool in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday. That result may have dented spirits, but a return to domestic competition could be favored as Toulouse possess the joint fourth-best defence in France’s top flight in 2023/24.
Players to watch: Montpellier’s TĂ©ji Savanier (G3, A2) had recorded five goal contributions in as many matches – although three of those (G2, A1) have since been chalked off following the abandonment. After a quiet start to the campaign, Toulouse’s Thijs Dallinga is beginning to replicate last season’s form, with six goal involvements in his last seven games.
Hot stat: Six of Montpellier’s last eight home league games saw both teams on the day score.