Monaco vs Montpellier

Montpellier and Monaco will lock horns in a tasty-looking Ligue 1 encounter at the Stade de la Mosson.

Montpellier have stumbled out of the blocks since the turn of the year, losing both Ligue 1 matches in 2022 by an aggregate score of 4-1 after winning four straight league games down the final stretch of 2021. Worryingly, they have lost two of their last four Ligue 1 matches at home (W2), as many defeats as they had in their previous 14 such contests (W7, D5). Entertainment has been relatively sparse in Montpellier’s recent competitive home fixtures – six of their last seven outings at the Stade de la Mosson have seen one of the sides fail to score in matches garnering under 2.5 overall goals. That said, another goal here would see ‘La Paillade’ become only the fifth Ligue 1 side to smash a 20-goal barrier at home this season, having netted 19 in their 11 home league games so far.

Meanwhile, Philippe Clement’s tenure at Monaco may have started with an underwhelming goalless draw at Nantes. However, the visitors swept newly-promoted Clermont 4-0 at home last time out to maintain their top-three hopes alive. Indeed, ‘Les Monégasques’ have racked up four victories in their last six Ligue 1 fixtures (D1, L1), as many as they had in their previous 11 in the competition (D4, L3). Monaco’s renaissance should inspire their efforts to translate their impressive home form to hostile turf, where they’ve failed to get on the scoresheet in five of their last six Ligue 1 games, as many scoring blanks as in their 31 top-flight travels beforehand. There’s a good omen here, as they’ve won three of their last four league H2Hs (D1) since a 3-1 loss in October 2019.