Montpellier vs Troyes prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2022-08-06 13:00.
A visibly concerned Olivier Dall'Oglio watched on with increasing discontent as Montpellier conceded 14 goals in five pre-season friendly defeats, including against nearly-relegated Ligue 2 club Rodez. âWe have a defensive problem,â he stated – which is no shock to anyone who witnessed them accumulate the sixth-worst âgoals againstâ tally in Ligue 1 last season. Entering a new campaign with four direct relegation places to Ligue 2 in 2022/23, mediocrity can no longer be risked nor accepted.
Montpellier went backwards under DallâOglio last season with their first bottom-half finish in five seasons, conceding an average of 2.33 goals across a nine game winless run (D2, L7) to cap off a dramatic collapse after being within touching distance of fifth place prior to Christmas. On a positive note, the free recruitment of Wahbi Khazri and Arnaud Nordin from recently relegated Saint-Ătienne already appears to be making a positive impact on their threat in the final third.
Troyes won away to Montpellier (1-0) during Bruno Irlesâ second game as caretaker manager last season, and after he staved off relegation and completed the clubâs objective of surviving a top flight campaign for the first time since the mid-2000s, one would think he should have the complete backing of the squad to push the club forwards.
To the contrary, reports emerged during the pre-season of several players asking privately for Irlesâ sacking after a falling out that threatens to destroy their season before it even begins. It may not take long to find out if last yearâs strugglers have begun to correct one of their worst habits: in the 2021/22 Ligue 1 season, Troyes conceded an equal-high five opening goals within the first 15 minutes away from home.
Players to watch: Khazri scored in ten separate league outings last season for the first time since 2018/19, spread evenly across both halves. Although the challenge for the Montpellier man is backing it up, as he netted just three times from 16 league appearances in 2019/20. Xavier Chavalerin was Troyesâ only scorer in the previous H2H, and three of his four Ligue 1 away goals last season were in victories.
Hot stat: Montpellier had the leagueâs fourth-best win/draw rate as pre-match favourites last season (82%; W5, D4, L2).