Montpellier vs Lyon prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2024-02-10 16:05.
Montpellier are hovering perilously close to the Ligue 1 relegation zone heading into the weekend, having failed to win any of their last four league matches (D2, L2), and just one of their last 11 (D5, L5). And after being dumped out of the Coupe de France 4-1 by Nice, picking up three points this Sunday against Lyon, one of five teams below them in the table pre-round, would be hugely significant.
Belief should be high that La Paillade can achieve that objective having triumphed 4-1 in August’s reverse fixture. Big victories like that have been rare though, as Montpellier haven’t scored more than once in a league game since late October, while they’ve drawn more home matches in Ligue 1 this season than any other side (seven), winning only once (L2).
Despite still being deep in trouble, Lyon’s run of four league wins in six games has hoisted them off the foot of the standings and out of the relegation zone heading into the latest round of fixtures. They trail Montpellier on goal difference alone, and as all five of Les Gones’ league victories this term have been accompanied by clean sheets, they’re building a good foundation to overtake their hosts.
Manager Pierre Sage has transformed things since his appointment in late November (W7, L4), with improvements in Ligue 1 arriving alongside Coupe de France progression, as Lyon eliminated Lille on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals. That win was the first time in 2023/24 that they had beaten one of the league’s current top-four, and if they can take that confidence into the weekend and record their third successive H2H away victory, they could find themselves as high as 12th on Sunday evening.
Players to watch: With eight goal contributions this season (G4, A4) and six in his seven previous H2Hs against Lyon (G4, A2), Téji Savanier is undoubtedly Montpellier’s danger man here. The in-form Alexandre Lacazette will be looking to outgun him after scoring eight times in his last four Ligue 1 H2Hs, including netting four times in Lyon’s 5-4 comeback win last season.
Hot stat: The team that has scored first in each of Lyon’s last seven matches has won.