Montpellier vs Rennes prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-04-22 15:05.
Though not yet mathematically safe from relegation, an eight-point cushion to the drop zone ahead of this round should be enough to ensure Montpellier are playing top-flight football next season. Even so, they won’t be leaving it to chance and can hit the much coveted 40-point mark with a victory here against European chasing Rennes.
That’s perhaps easier said than done, as Montpellier have lost six of their last seven Ligue 1 games against Rennes (D1), conceding an eye-watering average of more than two goals per game across those matches. Whilst conceding is often an issue, Montpellier have scored in each of their nine Ligue 1 games since Michel Der Zakarian returned to the club, so a marked improvement from their defence in this match would thus likely bear three points.
On a high after a 3-0 win against Reims last round, Rennes hit the road hoping to lay to rest the demons of a 3-1 defeat against Lyon on their last away outing. Victory against PSG in the away game prior to that (2-0) proves Rennes are more than capable of rubbing shoulders with the league’s elite, but considering that was their only league victory on the road against a side starting this round 14th or higher (D4, L6), they haven’t proved that very often.
That must not detract away from the fine season Rennes are having, with their tally of 53 points after 31 games their third-best of the three-point per game era. In favour of them continuing to build upon that already impressive tally is an imposing personal H2H record for boss Bruno Génésio, who has lost just one of his 11 historical meetings with Montpellier (W7, D3).
Players to watch: Dead-ball specialist TĂ©ji Savanier has seen seven of his last eight Ligue 1 goals come from either free kicks or penalties. The visitors may look to Arnaud Kalimuendo for inspiration as the Rennes forward has been involved in four of their last seven away Ligue 1 goals (G2, A2).
Hot stat: Michel Der Zakarian has never overseen a Ligue 1 victory against a Bruno Génésio-managed side (D4, L4).