Montpellier vs Strasbourg prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2024-03-02 14:00.
A potentially tense and nervy Stade de la Mosson awaits a struggling Montpellier when they host Strasbourg, with the home side loitering dangerously close to the relegation zone after a poor campaign thus far. A recent run of just one league victory in their last seven outings (D2, L4) has seen them slide all the way down to 15th place, punctuated by a 4-1 mauling at the hands of Marseille last time out.
That was their joint-heaviest defeat of the season, but the fact Montpellier have managed just five league wins this campaign, only achieving less at this stage of a top-flight season three times before, is a real concern. Manager Michel Der Zakarian would have once seen a meeting with Strasbourg as surefire points having lost just one of his first 12 personal league meetings with them (W6, D5), but two defeats and two draws since may cast a doubt in his mind over whether his side can secure the win that would see them leapfrog their opponents.
Perhaps luckily for Der Zakarian and his team, Strasbourg are in worse shape currently with each of their last four Ligue 1 games ending in defeat, while they suffered a midweek Coupe de France exit to compound their misery. Their poor recent Ligue 1 exploits have seen them slip to 13th in the table, just three points above the relegation play-off spot.
The Blue and Whites haven’t won a league game yet in 2024, going winless through their first six top-flight matches (D2, L4) of a calendar year for the first time since 1966! A matchup with Montpellier could potentially be used to stem the tide, considering they have lost just one of the last five league H2Hs (W2, D2), although they haven’t won an away H2H since 2004 (D4, L5 since).
Players to watch: Montpellier’s Arnaud Nordin may look to be a part of the action early since eight of his last 12 goals have come before half-time, which includes two strikes against Strasbourg. The visitors will likely rely on 21-year old Emanuel Emegha to get them out of their rut, as none of his 16 senior goalscoring appearances have ended in defeat (W13, D3).
Hot stat: All but one of Strasbourg’s last 12 Ligue 1 games saw both teams score.