Montpellier vs Nice prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2024-12-14 14:00.
[p]Ligue 1’s bottom side Montpellier may have felt that they’d started to turn a corner after they twice came from behind to draw against Lille (2-2), but a 2-0 loss at Lens since then has again underlined the huge task facing La Paillade. Their last stint in the second-tier came back in 2008/09 , but their current tally of eight points – their lowest at this stage of a campaign in top-flight history – means they’ve an uphill task to preserve their Ligue 1 status.[/p]
[p]Beginning the weekend five points adrift of safety, their main issues lie in a leaky defence that’s conceded a division-high 36 goals from their 14 matches (W2, D2, L10). Facing a side challenging for Europe therefore looks a tricky task, but Montpellier have shaded their 49 prior Ligue 1 H2Hs with Nice (W20, D13, L16), only beating Toulouse more often in the top-flight. [/p]
[p]Confidence of adding to that tally will have been boosted by Nice’s recent struggles, as the visitors have lost three of their last four matches across all competitions (W1). Royale Union Saint-Gilloise were the latest side to beat Franck Haise’s men (2-1), putting the Eaglets on the brink of elimination from the UEFA Europa League, therefore placing extra importance on their Ligue 1 form.[/p]
[p]A 2-1 win over Le Havre last weekend at least kept Nice in the top-six, with that taking their impressive league form to just one defeat in ten such matches (W5, D4). Building on a poor recent competitive away record is next on the agenda (W1, D2, L5), and Montpellier could be the perfect place to do that as they’ve avoided defeat on each of their last four trips there (W2, D2).[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Arnaud Nordin has scored in Montpellier’s last two home games, but hasn’t netted in his nine previous meetings with Nice – the most he has faced a single opponent without ever scoring. Evann Guessand got Nice’s equaliser against Union Saint-Gilloise, but he is also yet to net against his side’s upcoming opponents, blanking in five previous H2Hs (W2, D2, L1). [/p]
[p]Hot stat: No Ligue 1 team has picked up more yellow or red cards than Montpellier this season going into the weekend (YC44, RC4). [/p]
[p][i]Written by Alex Bowmer[/i][/p]