Lyon vs Montpellier prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2025-01-03 20:00.
[p]Just as Lyon were beginning to build up steam prior to the Ligue 1 winter break, they were defeated 3-1 by reigning title-holders PSG which brought an end to their prior nine-match unbeaten league run (W6, D3). A victory in the Coupe de France a week later at least got Lyon back on track, and after enjoying a festive rest over the past fortnight, Pierre Sage’s side will now be looking to claim another win against Montpellier. [/p]
[p]This will be the 60th time that the two teams have met in Ligue 1 and with Lyon holding a 49.2% win rate, the home side enter here as clear favourites. What will prove less appealing for the hosts though is their record when beginning calendar years of late, as they’ve failed to win any of their last three opening league fixtures of a calendar year (D1, L2) and will be looking to avoid their longest such run since 1993 here. [/p]
[p]It’s proving to be all doom and gloom for visiting Montpellier this season, as they were embarrassingly defeated 4-0 by Le Puy in their Coupe de France outing, the biggest margin of defeat for a top-flight club against a side beyond the third national level in the history of the competition. That result served to compound their miserable league return in which they have claimed just nine points across 15 matches so far, sitting bottom of the table as a result (W2, D3, L10). [/p]
[p]In the 21st century, 16 of the 17 teams to have had nine or fewer Ligue 1 points at that stage of the campaign went on to be relegated, so the away side will be desperate to get back to winning ways, but considering that Montpellier have lost each of their last four opening league matches of a calendar year, more misery looks likely to follow here.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette has netted 15 goals across his 16 H2Hs, his most goals against any single side, whilst Arnaud Nordin scored both home and away for Montpellier against Lyon last season.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Just two of Montpellier’s seven Ligue 1 away matches this season have seen both teams score – a joint-league low tally. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Nathan Evans[/i][/p]