Montpellier will look for back-to-back wins when they host Marseille in the Ligue 1. La Paillade defeated Metz 1-0 on Sunday thanks to an early goal. OM defeated Clermont 2-1 to extend their league unbeaten streak to five games.
Preview (Montpellier HSC vs. Marseille)
It was anything but simple, but Montpellier hasn’t had many easy games this year. Despite a few anxious moments, Montpellier managed to score nine minutes into their match against Metz. Metz had thirty touches inside the Montpellier penalty area, but the visitors managed to escape each time. They put some distance between themselves and the drop and moved up to the 12th spot. After only one domestic loss this season, they reached the back of the goal in the first half.
Only twice this season have Michel Der Zakarian’s team secured three points at home. Additionally, they have only twice been in the lead at Stade de la Mosson, where they have secured a result. Montpellier’s 17 points this season are the same as they were this time last year. Montpellier has not won against Marseille in nine straight competitive games. Their most recent triumph against them came at home on matchday 12 of the 2018–19 season (3-0). Les Olympiens won a fourth straight game in this competition on Sunday with just another quick start.
With as many wins this month as they did from May to November 2023, Gennaro Gattuso’s team is undefeated in December. Though they have been a different team away from the Stade Velodrome. They lost four of their last six away games in this competition. Marseille has amassed more points at home domestically in 2023–24 than any other team in Ligue 1. They scored four goals at Lorient. It was the same amount of goals this club had scored in their six previous away Ligue 1 games combined? In contrast, they have only been stopped off the scoresheet once in their previous ten games at Montpellier.
Team News
In the last Montpellier game, Boubakar Kouyate was suspended, and Issiaga Sylla and Arnaud Nordin were out due to groin strains. Theo Sainte-Luce might need at least another week to heal from his ankle sprain, Leo Leroy is unlikely to play on Wednesday due to a sore groin, and Wahbi Khazri won’t be back until early January owing to a thigh ailment. On Sunday, La Paillade defeated Metz thanks to an early goal from Maxime Esteve, and Benjamin Lecomte recorded his second straight clean sheet.
Captain Valentin Rongier of Les Olympiens will be absent as he continues to recuperate from knee surgery, and Joaquin Correa is doubtful to play because of an ankle ailment. Both Jonathan Clauss and Iliman Ndiaye, who were both forced to miss their match over the weekend due to suspensions, are available to make a comeback for Marseille. With their first goals in their Ligue 1 careers, Amir Murillo and Amine Harit helped OM hold on to a victory over Les Lanciers.
Montpellier HSC 0-1 Marseille
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