Montpellier vs Paris SG prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-01-31 20:00.
“We have a sentiment of duty done, it's a relief," said coach Romain Pitau after Montpellier’s 2-0 win at Auxerre last weekend ended a run of three consecutive defeats in Ligue 1, meaning they find themselves five points above the relegation zone ahead of this round. The return of goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte after leaving the club in 2019 helped Montpellier to record only their second clean sheet in 15 Ligue 1 matches, including a stoppage-time penalty save in that victory.
Pitau’s men will have to temper their aggression if they are to upset the odds and halt their current five-game winless run at Stade de la Mosson (D1, L4), as they’ve received a league-high seven red cards in their opening ten top-flight home games! This ill-discipline means they will face league-leaders PSG without two key attackers, Wahbi Khazri and Elye Wahi, who are suspended after being sent off here against Nantes.
Visiting PSG may have won the last seven league H2Hs, but things could be different this time as their form is declining in 2023 with only one win in four Ligue 1 outings (D1, L2). The Parisians are now looking anxiously over their shoulder as they have seen their lead at the top of the Ligue 1 standings cut from seven points at the end of 2022 to only three ahead of this round.
Naturally upset after a 1-1 home draw against Reims last time out, coach Christophe Galtier lamented his side’s complacency by stating “we’ve fallen into a comfort zone”. Galtier was particularly annoyed that his players only attempted one shot in the first half, PSG’s lowest total before half-time in Ligue 1 since April 2018 against Saint-Etienne.
Key battle: Montpellier’s in-form Stephy Mavididi netted a brace against Auxerre last weekend, and he remains his team’s last player to score against PSG here in Ligue 1. PSG’s Kylian Mbappé will be one to watch, as his 18 goal contributions (G10 A8) in 11 Ligue 1 meetings against Montpellier is the most he’s made against any club.
Hot streak: None of the previous ten league H2Hs have been goalless at half-time.