Montpellier vs PSG – Betting Preview
Montpellier Preview
Romain Pitau’s team is currently 14th in the table and has a comfortable five-point lead over the four teams in the relegation zone, but they are far from guaranteed a spot in the top flight after ending a dismal four-game losing streak in all competitions that dated back to December.
La Paillade’s early exit from the Coupe de France to Pau has at least made it possible for them to concentrate solely on their performance in Ligue 1.
However, as one of only four teams to have allowed more than 40 goals in the division thus far (the others being Troyes, Auxerre, and Angers), failure to tighten up at the back will spell danger for Pitau’s team.
Montpellier have also taken just one point from their last five home games during a woeful period at the Stade de la Mosson – keeping just one clean sheet on familiar territory all season against Ajaccio – but there is arguably no better time to face a wounded PSG!
PSG Preview
Few anticipated that Reims’ incredible unbeaten streak under William Still would continue at the holders’ stadium, but the 30-year-old upset the odds by leaving the Parc des Princes with a draw after Les Parisiens were reduced to 10 men.
With 51 minutes gone, Neymar’s dancing feet gave the Brazilian the lead. However, Reims dug deep and equalised six minutes into the second half through Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun after midfield mainstay Marco Verratti was sent off just before the hour mark.
PSG are in very uncharted circumstances at the top of the Ligue 1 rankings after losing three of their last four games, but Christophe Galtier’s team still leads Lens by three points after the second-placed Sang et Or could only draw 1-1 against Troyes!
Putting seven past Pays de Cassel in the Coupe de France would have ostensibly been great preparation for the start of Ligue 1, but PSG is clearly in a title challenge this season, and they now run the prospect of suffering three straight league losses away from home for the first time since March.
1×2 Betting Preview
For PSG, games against Montpellier have frequently been simple affairs, but Galtier’s team is currently going through the definition of a rough patch, and the ardent Paillade supporters will be in a good mood after their team’s victorious weekend adventures.
But despite that, the home side are still massive underdogs in this @ 9.80.
A PSG without Verratti faces danger from a revitalised Mavididi, but Galtier will want his team to respond immediately, and they should against a leaky Montpellier team, even if it isn’t pretty!
PSG should still have enough within them to come away with a victory, and their market odds also make them the favourites @ 1.36.
The possibility of a stalemate and points dropped for PSG, stands @ 6.25.
Total goals over/under
The odds that the total number of goals scored will be over 2.5, stands @ 1.48.
While the odds that the total number of goals will be under 2.5, stands @ 2.80.
PSG will certainly take encouragement from their 5-2 thumping of Montpellier back in August, which represented their eighth successive win over La Paillade in all tournaments, and the champions have scored at least twice in each of their last 11 meetings with the underdog hosts.
PSG are massive favourites to win here, and they should win comfortably!
