SM
Barcelona vs. Brann: 3 hrs 28 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
M
Ligue 1 | Gameweek 35
May 1, 2022 at 2pm UK
Stade de la Mosson
ML

Montpellier
2 - 2
Metz

Souquet (79'), Wahi (90+1')
Oyongo (29'), Leroy (58')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Delaine (24'), Mafouta (70')
Pajot (51'), Sarr (66'), Lamkel Ze (68')

Preview: Montpellier HSC vs. Metz - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Montpellier HSC vs. Metz - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Sunday's Ligue 1 clash between Montpellier HSC and Metz, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Two sides desperately out of form go head to head in Ligue 1 on Sunday, with Montpellier HSC hosting Metz at the Stade de la Mosson.

The hosts have seen their challenge for European football fall apart following their poor recent spell, whilst the visitors could finally see their inevitable relegation from the top flight confirmed depending on results.


Match preview

Although Montpellier certainly played their part in a thrilling game of football at Lyon last Saturday, they once again failed to pick up a positive result as their winless streak was extended to five games.

A relatively impressive first-half display looked to be all for nothing as they headed towards half time at 2-0 down, but a quickfire double from Sepe Elye Wahi and Teji Savanier on the stroke of half time pulled the visitors deservedly level.

However, Olivier Dall'Oglio's side could do little to prevent the Lyon onslaught after the interval, with a brace from Houssem Aouar either side of Karl Toko Ekambi's goal condemning Montpellier to a 5-2 defeat.

As a result, La Paillade head into Sunday's encounter having picked up just one point from the last 15 available, and three wins from their 15 Ligue 1 outings in 2022.

The alarming slump in form has potentially cost Montpellier a place in the continental qualification spots, with 15 points now separating them from the top five to leave Sunday's hosts with nothing left to play for in the remaining weeks of the campaign.

However, with the disappointing run since the turn of year likely to see them finish in a lowly bottom-half position, Dall'Oglio, and some of his players, could well be playing for their futures ahead of a targeted significant improvement for the 2022-23 season.

Meanwhile, Metz would snatch at the chance to be in Montpellier's relatively disappointing situation heading into matchday 35.

The visitors have endured a disastrous season in Ligue 1, and with no wins, and just five goals being scored, in the 13 games that have followed the 1-0 victory at Reims back in January, they could well be put out of their misery on Sunday.

Les Grenats sit at the foot of the table with just four wins all campaign, which leaves them with a near impossible task of catching Saint-Etienne in the relegation playoff spot in order to survive.

Seven points separate the two sides ahead of the weekend action, and should Les Verts pick up an unlikely three points at high-flying Rennes, defeat at Montpellier would see the relegation to Ligue 2 confirmed for Metz.

Therefore, all that is really left to play for at the struggling outfit is pride, with boss Frederic Antonetti keen to see his side show a bit of character in their inevitable drop out of the top flight.

Although, any character was certainly not on display when Metz were beaten 1-0 at home to Brest last weekend, with straight red cards from Jemerson and Alexandre Oukidja within seconds of each other summing up their disastrous season in an instant, during another miserable afternoon for the league's bottom side.

Montpellier HSC Ligue 1 form:
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • L

Metz Ligue 1 form:
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • L



Team News

Montpellier will have full-back Mihailo Ristic back available to them on Sunday, after the Serbian served a five-match suspension for his red card at Bordeaux back in March.

He is expected to come back into the side ahead of Ambroise Oyongo, but Pedro Mendes and Thibault Tamas remain sidelined despite nearing returns from serious knee injuries.

Former Newcastle United midfielder Remy Cabella could drop out of the starting 11 after failing to register any goals or assists in his first four appearances since joining the club recently, with Florent Mollet the likely candidate to replace the Frenchman.

As for the visitors, Jemerson and Oukidja will sit out following their red cards in last weekend's defeat, with Marc-Aurele Caillard being provided with an opportunity between the posts in the absence of the latter.

Dylan Bronn, Fali Cande and Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik remain doubts to return from injury, which would leave Antonetti with limited defensive options at his disposal.

Ibrahim Amadou and Habib Maiga are also doubts due to cheekbone and thigh injuries respectively, whilst Matthieu Udol remains a long-term absentee.

Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:
Omlin; Souquet, Cozza, Sakho, Ristic; Ferri, Chotard; Mavididi, Savanier, Mollet; Elye Wahi

Metz possible starting lineup:
Caillard; Mbengue, Kouyate, Niakate; Centonze, Pajot, Traore, Sarr, Delaine; De Preville, Niane


We say: Montpellier HSC 2-0 Metz

With both sides lacking in confidence following awful runs of form, it is unlikely to be a spectacle full of goals on Sunday.

Although the hosts look far from their usual best, they should possess enough to see off a poor visiting Metz side that continue to lack any character and fight as they slide towards an inevitable relegation.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data




body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__484634 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2022-05-02 12:35:21:
html db last update - 2022-04-29 12:14:06 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Wednesday's Ligue 1 predictions including Angers vs. PSG
Pochettino calls for "calm" over Sterling situation at Chelsea
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Paris Saint-GermainPSG26178162233959
2Brest26138536201647
3MonacoMonaco26137647361146
4Lille261110537231443
5Nice2612772720743
6Lens2612683527842
7Marseille26109740281239
8Rennes2610974031939
9Reims26115103435-138
10Lyon26104123040-1034
11Toulouse2678112936-729
12StrasbourgStrasbourg2678112839-1129
13Le HavreLe Havre2669112633-727
14Montpellier HSCMontpellier2669113140-926
15Lorient2668123549-1426
16NantesNantes2674152441-1725
17Metz2665152339-1623
18Clermont2648141943-2420
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Preview: Brentford vs. Man Utd - prediction, team news, lineups

1

PB

How Man United could line up against Brentford

2

HM

Man Utd 'add Colombia international to defensive shortlist'

NEW

3

MU

Man Utd 'angered by midfielder's loan situation'

NEW

4

MU

Real Madrid injury, suspension list vs. Athletic

5

RM

Arsenal 'draw up 10-man striker shortlist'

6

A'

Preview: Spurs vs. Luton - prediction, team news, lineups

7

PS

Arsenal injury, suspension list vs. Man City - Saka, Gabriel

8

AI

England attacking duo 'in danger of missing out on Euro 2024'

9

EA

Preview: Nijmegen vs. PSV - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PN


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .