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

Lyon and Montpellier HSC fastener horns for the 60th clip successful Ligue 1 connected Saturday, with the hosts seeking a 30th triumph against their upcoming opponents.

There were differing fortunes for the 2 sides against fourth-tier absorption successful the Coupe de France to extremity 2024, with Montpellier suffering 1 of the worst results successful their history.

Match preview

© IconSport

Lyon whitethorn person mislaid to Paris Saint-Germain successful their past league fixture of 2024, but they inactive ended the twelvemonth brilliantly to support them successful apical 4 contention.

That was their archetypal decision distant from location since the opening time of the season, and they followed it up by winning astatine Feignies-Aulnoye successful the Coupe de France to seal their spot successful the circular of 32.

Prior to the PSG decision though, Lyon made airy enactment of Angers and Nice, sweeping some speech scoring 7 goals successful the process to keep them fifth, conscionable 2 points down Lille.

Monaco person played a crippled much successful third, meaning if Lyon triumph here, the spread to the automatic Champions League places volition beryllium conscionable 2 points arsenic well, successful a congested contention for those illustrious positions.

Even connected the continent Lyon person impressed, ending Eintracht Frankfurt's grounds unbeaten tally successful the Europa League connected matchday six with a 3-2 triumph present astatine the Groupama Stadium, but earlier returning to the European stage, Pierre Sage's men person 3 league games and different Coupe de France necktie to navigate.

With conscionable 2 defeats successful 17 matches, the likelihood are hugely stacked successful their favour, but they person failed to triumph their archetypal lucifer aft the wintertime interruption successful each of the past 3 seasons, and continuing that inclination volition spot them adjacent their erstwhile worst run, acceptable during the 1980s.

However, it would beryllium a mighty daze if the hosts did not get the amended of a shellshocked Montpellier broadside that were crying retired for the wintertime interruption to come.

Not lone were Jean-Louis Gasset's broadside stone bottommost of Ligue 1 to decorativeness 2024, they were connected the receiving extremity of 1 of the biggest shocks successful Coupe de France history.

© Imago

Fourth-tier Le Puy-en-Velay thrashed the Ligue 1 outfit 4-0 successful their circular of 64 necktie - the biggest borderline of decision ever suffered by a top-flight nine against a squad from the 3rd part oregon little successful the competition's history.

With 11 defeats successful their past 15 games, Montpellier person a 100% grounds of losing connected the roadworthy this play aft that humbling successful the cupful against the minnows, up of facing 1 of the astir in-form teams successful France.

Montpellier person conscionable 9 points connected the board, and 16 of the 17 teams to beryllium connected azygous digits for points astatine this signifier of a Ligue 1 play successful the 21st period person gone connected to beryllium relegated.

However, the prime astatine the bottommost is not rather arsenic precocious arsenic it has been successful years gone by, with Montpellier lone 4 points from safety, truthful each eyes volition beryllium connected the clash with Angers successful a week's clip astatine home.

Lyon Ligue 1 form:

Lyon signifier (all competitions):

Montpellier HSC Ligue 1 form:

Montpellier HSC signifier (all competitions):

Team News

© Imago

Duje Caleta-Car's sixth booking of the play triggered a two-game prohibition for the Lyon defender, and helium volition service the past of that here.

Fellow defender Nicolas Tagliafico is besides suspended, but missed the past crippled with wounded anyhow and would person been doubtful for this one.

Gift Orban and Wilfried Zaha were near retired wholly and look acceptable to depart this month, pursuing successful the footsteps of Anthony Lopes, who has already joined Nantes, portion Thiago Almada volition not yet beryllium available, with his transportation from Botafogo not going done until January 5.

Montpellier besides person 2 players missing done suspension, with yellowish paper accumulation ruling some Enzo Tcahto and Modibo Sagnan retired of this one.

We say: Lyon 3-0 Montpellier HSC

Nothing is definite successful football, but Lyon person been successful superb signifier and Montpellier deed stone bottommost successful their past outing, leaving the hosts arsenic immense favourites for this one.

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