Strasbourg vs Montpellier prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2025-02-08 16:15.
[p]Strasbourg’s fine run of form that had seen them go six Ligue 1 matches unbeaten (W4, D2) ended last Sunday when they were beaten 1-0 by a Rennes side under new management. Liam Rosenior’s men still ended the last matchday just inside the top half and are encouragingly two points better off than they were at this stage last season, which surely boosts hopes of a first major European campaign since appearing in the 2005/06 UEFA Cup.[/p]
[p]Englishman Rosenior made history when all ten of his starting outfield players against Montpellier (D 1-1) earlier this season were under 23 and there remains a youthful feel to his squad. That includes his two loan signings during the transfer window as ValentĂn Barco from Brighton and Andrew Omobamidele from Nottingham Forest are just 20 and 22 respectively, although both have prior Premier League experience.[/p]
[p]Montpellier are striving to move away from the bottom three, although they followed up excellent 2-1 wins over Monaco and Toulouse by losing 2-0 to Lens last round. Unsurprisingly given they’re on a club-record run of 26 Ligue 1 games without a clean sheet, they’ve strengthened their defence during the transfer window by loaning in Bamo Meïté from Marseille.[/p]
[p]Conceding has been a particular problem away from home, where they’ve only won once all season in the league (L8), so they may not be looking forward to this trip given they’ve won none of the last three away H2Hs either (D1, L2). As Jean-Louis Gasset’s side haven’t kept a clean sheet in a league game here since February 2018, this promises to be a strong test of their new-look backline.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Habib Diarra has been in the thick of the action for Strasbourg, picking up two bookings and registering an assist across their last two league games – his two home league goals this term were both penalties. Modibo Sagnan netted his second goal of the season for Montpellier against Toulouse, with both strikes arriving after the hour mark.[/p]
[p]Hot streak: The home side on the day hasn’t scored before half-time in any of Montpellier’s last five league games (HT: D2, L3).[/p]
[p][i]Written by John Pennington[/i][/p]