Ligue 1 | Gameweek 15

Dec 15, 2024 at 2pm UK

Stade de la Mosson

Montpelliervs.Nice

Match preview

After starting the month with a hard-fought 2-2 draw at home to Lille, Montpellier were back in familiar territory last weekend.

Under new coach Jean-Louis Gasset, Montpellier have won just one of their six domestic fixtures, failing to find the back of the net on four occasions.

Their eight points from 14 league games is the fewest they have ever accumulated at this stage of a top-flight season and leaves them in danger of relegation for the first time since 2003-04.

All their points in the competition this season have come at the Stade de la Mosson, and on Sunday they can extend their home unbeaten run to three games.

Montpellier have conceded 36 goals domestically, the most of any French side after 14 top-flight matches since Nice conceded 39 at this stage of the 1978-79 season.

Meanwhile, 17 of La Paillade's goals have been conceded in Occitania, the most they have conceded after seven top-flight home fixtures since 2020-21 (14).

Heading into the 15th round of matches in domestic competition, Nice are just about to qualify for next season's Europa League, but are also closing in on a top-four finish.

Just three points separate the Aiglons from fourth-placed Lille, with eighth-placed Auxerre trailing by the same margin.

With their final two matches of the 2024 campaign away from home, the Aiglons have suffered consecutive defeats away from the Allianz Rivera, while all of their losses in the competition this season have come as visitors.

They have suffered just one defeat in their last 10 Ligue 1 matches, but this week they are in danger of losing consecutive domestic away games for the first time this season.

Franck Haise has been at his best in the attacking third, with Nice netting 26 times so far this term, the second-highest total in the top flight this century behind the 2015-16 team's 30.

Le Gym have taken at least a point in four consecutive away games against Montpellier in all competitions, including a 4-1 defeat in the last 16 of the Coupe de France in February.

Recent Performance

Montpellier HSC Ligue 1 form:LLWLDL

Nice Ligue 1 form:WWDWLW

Nice form (all competitions):DWLLWL

Team News

Montpellier will be without Yanis Issoufou and Birama Toure this weekend due to knee problems, while Khalil Fayad and Lucas Mincarelli are recovering from unspecified injuries.

Boubakar Kouyate is likely to be sidelined this weekend with a knee injury, while Tanguy Coulibaly will miss out again through suspension.

Issiaga Sylla scored his first goal of the season last time out and Arnaud Nordin's equaliser was his fourth of the campaign.

Morgan Sanson and Antoine Mendy are both nursing sore ankles, while Ali Abdi, Youssouf Ndayishimiye and Mohamed-Ali Cho are all nursing hamstring injuries.

Dante is not expected back until early January as he recovers from a meniscus problem, while Victor Orakpo is out with a hernia, although Mohamed Abdelmonem could be back after missing last weekend through illness.

Gaetan Laborde scored a second-half penalty to put his side ahead against Le Havre, before Badredine Bouanani grabbed the winner 15 minutes from time.

Possible starting lineup

Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:

Lecomte; Tchato, Sagnan, Kouyate, Omeragic; Ferri, Chotard, Bares; Savanier; Adams, Nordin

Nice possible starting lineup:

Bulka; Louchet, Rosario, Bombito, Nandjou; Diop, Boudaoui, Camara; Bouanani; Laborde, Guessand