Montpellier vs Saint-Etienne Prediction - Ligue 1
The bottom two teams in Ligue 1 face each other and French expert Steve Wyss has this Montpellier vs St Etienne prediction preview from Le Stade Mosson in Southern France. This feels like do or die for both teams, especially Montpellier who are starting to get cut adrift at the foot of the table. Can either side get the victory which would be huge for their respective survival chances?
Montpellier vs St Etienne Prediction: Glutton of goals expected in crunch relegation clash
France, Ligue 1, Sunday, March 16th, 16:15 (UK)
Montpellier are the favourites to win this match but you’d be brave to back a team who are rock bottom of Ligue 1 and who have lost 6 straight games. There is a feeling of doom and gloom around the place and this is possibly their last chance to get themselves back in the survival race. Even a draw would feel insufficient facing a St Etienne side who are winless since January. These bottom of the table clashes can sometimes be dour affairs but the defensive records of both sides is so bad that there surely must be goals.
One thing that new St Etienne boss Eirik Horneland has done since taking charge in January is improve their attack. They have looked much more threatening and taken more risks, which as a result has seen Les Verts score in all but one of his games managed. The likes of Lucas Stassin upfront has seen a big improvement in form and his high pressing and work rate really suits the system of this manager. St Etienne actually look a big price to win this game and could be a good bet. They are much more optimistic about avoiding the drop and despite not winning for a while they have faced some tough fixtures in recent weeks. Draws against Le Havre and Angers at least got them some points on the board and saw an improved performance.
Montpellier games average 3.20 goals in each fixture this season with 16 out of 25 going over 2.5 goals. Only PSG have more over 3.5 goal games in Ligue 1 than both of these teams and we have seen St Etienne have a huge increase in goals since Horneland took charge. In this instance the value is to go looking at the bigger goal lines with over 3.5 available to back at odds of 2.62. This simply has to be a shootout between two poor defences but who do have some goals in them. If this exploded into something wild it wouldn’t be a surprise.
- Montpellier vs St Etienne Prediction: Over 3.5 goals Selection (TRACKED BET)
- Best Odds: 2.62
- Bookmaker: bet365
- Stake: 4/10 (TRACKED BET)
Montpellier vs St Etienne Prediction odds via bet365 as at 17:00, March 13th, 2024. Odds may now differ.
Montpellier vs St Etienne Team News: Batubinsika set to return for St Etienne
Montpellier midfielder Khalil Fayad could return to the side after suspension last week. Manager Jean-Louis Gasset employed a 5-3-2 system vs Lille away but could switch to something different here in a must win match. Midfielder Jordan Ferri is suspended but would have likely only been on the bench anyway.
St Etienne central defender Dylan Batubinskia should return to the starting XI after he was suspended for last week’s match vs Le Havre. Manager Eirik Horneland should otherwise keep the same team though and line up in his familiar 4-3-3 formation.
Montpellier possible starting lineup:
Lecomte, Saite-Luce, Sagnan, Kouyate, Mouanga, Sacko, Savanier, Chotard, Nzingoula, Delort, Coulibaly
St Etienne possible starting lineup:
Larsonneur, Petrol, Nade, Batubinsika, Macon, Tardieu, Ekwah, Davitashvilli, Bouchouari, Cardona, Stassin
Match OPTA Stats: Both sides have been defensive disasters
- Montpellier are in terrible form with 6 straight defeats in Ligue 1 and they have the most losses of any team this season (18)
- St Etienne are now 9 games without a victory but are boosted by two recent draws
- Since Eirik Horneland took over as manager St Etienne have scored at least one goal in 9 out of 10 fixtures.
- Both sides have the worst defensive record in Ligue 1, conceding a massive 59 and 57 goals respectively.
- Montpellier and St Etienne have conceded the most shots per game on average (16.3 & 16.2)
- Montpellier have by far the worst disciplinary record in Ligue 1 with 70 yellow cards and 6 reds.
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