Ligue 1 | Gameweek 22

Feb 16, 2025 at 2pm UK

Stade de la Mosson

Montpellier vs Lyon

Match preview

After five consecutive mid-table finishes in French football's top flight, Montpellier face the unthinkable prospect of relegation to Ligue 2 at the end of the season, despite a slight upturn in form at the start of the year.

After a seven-match winless run in all competitions, La Paillade won back-to-back Ligue 1 games at the end of January - beating both Monaco and Toulouse - but Sunday's hosts have since returned to their worrying ways with 2-0 defeats to Lens and Strasbourg.

Having won just two of their last 11 games, it is little wonder that Montpellier find themselves rooted to the foot of the Ligue 1 table after 21 games, six points behind Nantes in the relative safety of 15th.

While a record of 20 goals in 21 games is hardly something to write home about, La Paillade have more pressing concerns at the back, where Jean-Louis Gasset's men have conceded a staggering 48 Ligue 1 goals, more than any other side in the division.

A number of high-profile January departures have not helped Montpellier's fight to avoid relegation this term, with Arnaud Nordin and Akor Adams departing for Mainz 05 and Sevilla respectively over the winter.

Following a worrying six-match winless run at the start of 2025, Lyon have welcomed former Lille boss Paulo Fonseca back to the club's coaching ranks, with the Portuguese head coach looking for some comfort on the Ligue 1 sidelines after an ill-fated spell at AC Milan.

The 51-year-old has endured a mixed start to life in the Groupama dugout, losing his first game in charge at Marseille on 2 February, seven days before the French giants recorded their biggest win of the campaign at Reims last Sunday.

Rayan Cherki, who was influential down the right flank in last weekend's thrashing of Reims, scored and provided two assists for Lyon on the afternoon, taking his tally to 10 goals in 17 league appearances this term at the age of 21.

Les Gones, who are chasing back-to-back league wins for the first time since early December, currently sit sixth in the Ligue 1 standings ahead of Sunday's trip to whipping boys Montpellier, four points behind Monaco in the bottom two of the Champions League.

Alexandre Lacazette, who has been a key figure for Lyon over the past two seasons - and has also been in the race with Kylian Mbappe for the league's Golden Boot - has struggled to find his usual form in Ligue 1, scoring just six goals in 18 top-flight appearances.

Recent Performance

Montpellier HSC Ligue 1 form:LLWWLL

Lyon Ligue 1 form:WLDDLW

Lyon form (all competitions):DDDDLW

Team News

The departure of Nordin during the winter window has left Montpellier short of options in attack, especially given their recent injury problems.

La Paillaide are also struggling at the back, with Christopher Jullien and Issiaga Sylla sidelined until the end of February.

Montpellier's options at the back have been further reduced by the absence of Nikola Maksimovic, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a hamstring problem.

Lyon's top scorer in Ligue 1 so far this season, former Arsenal striker Lacazette, is currently sidelined with a knee injury.

Having kept a clean sheet for the first time in four matches last time out, Les Gones are likely to stick with a centre-back partnership of Clinton Mata and Moussa Niakhate.

Possible starting lineup

Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:

Lecomte; Meite, Mouanaga, Sagnan; Tchato, Fayad, Chotard, Sainte-Luce, Savanier; Coulibaly, Delort

Lyon possible starting lineup:

Perri; Kumbedi, Mata, Niakhate, Tagliafico; Matic, Tessmann; Cherki, Tolisso, Nuamah; Mikautadze