Montpellier vs Auxerre prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2024-09-21 15:00.
[p]Montpellier are enduring their joint-worst start to a season this century, so things can surely only get better. To this point, La Paillade have picked up just one point from four games (D1, L3), and that, coupled with a miserable goal difference of -11 thanks to already conceding a league-high of 13 goals, means that they sit rock bottom of Ligue 1 at this early stage in the campaign.[/p]
[p]Time may therefore be running out for manager Michel Der Zakarian, who saw his side played off the park in a 3-0 defeat at Rennes last time out. The club are reportedly already drawing up a shortlist of potential replacements to take over in the dugout, which places further pressure on this clash with Auxerre, against whom Montpellier have ominously won only five of the last 14 H2Hs (D4, L5).[/p]
[p]That will be music to the ears of the visitors, who themselves have not exactly set Ligue 1 alight so far on their return to the top flight after being promoted last season. They beat Nice 2-1 in their opening game of the season, but that match probably feels a long time ago now, given a 3-0 defeat to Monaco last time out served as a third successive loss.[/p]
[p]Manager Christophe Pélissier criticised his players for a lack of “intensity” in that game, admitting the performance left him feeling “bitter” and “upset.” He will therefore be demanding an improvement from his side, as Auxerre make the long journey south to Stade de la Mosson, where they will be attempting to win a Ligue 1 away game for the first time since April 2023 (D1, L4).[/p]
[p]Key battle: Montpellier goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte has now gone seven matches without keeping a clean sheet, although five of those fixtures have seen both teams score. Attempting to extend that run might be forward Florian Ayé, who has come off the bench in each of Auxerre’s four games so far, but is also unbeaten in his last ten goalscoring appearances (W6, D4).[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Montpellier have trailed at half-time in three of their four Ligue 1 games so far this season, which stands as the second worst record in the division.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Matt Jones[/i][/p]