Montpellier vs Clermont prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-10-07 13:00.
After a 3-0 win away to Lorient, Montpellier are now three games unbeaten in Ligue 1 (W1, D2), a run that has thrust them into the middle of the table. Almost as close to the drop zone as the European places ahead of the round, they can’t rest on their laurels, and that’s a sentiment backed up by boss Michel Der Zakarian, who claimed his side need to be more “consistent” if they’re to challenge the European places.
The visit of Clermont promises to be a good test of not only whether they can continue that consistency of results in the league, but also their consistency in winning home H2Hs, having won the last three in league action. That perhaps makes Clermont welcome visitors as far as Montpellier are concerned, especially as they’re currently on a five-match winless Ligue 1 home run (D3, L2).
One of just two winless sides remaining in Ligue 1 ahead of the round, Clermont look to be in a world of trouble this season. A 0-0 draw with PSG last weekend was at least a positive result, but after Pascal Gastien insisted before that game that his side had to “win some points” before the international break, this is their last chance to do so, which in turn brings an element of pressure.
Gastien claims that draw will give his side “confidence”, and it’s perhaps just as well his players have belief, as his winless record in managerial H2Hs against Der Zakarian-managed sides (D2, L3) certainly won’t inspire any. The key to ending that run likely lies in defence, as Clermont are always likely to struggle when leaking goals at the rate they do on the road, conceding exactly twice in their last five Ligue 1 road trips (W1, D1, L3).
Players to watch: Amongst Ligue 1’s top scorers, Montpellier’s Akor Adams has seen four of his five goals this term arrive after the break. Clermont will hope Grejohn Kyei can help them arrest their slide as they’ve won eight of the nine games he’s scored in for them – five of which came by a 2-1 scoreline.
Hot stat: Clermont have conceded four away league goals this term in the opening 15 minutes – a joint-Ligue 1 high ahead of the round.