Lille aims to reclaim a top-four spot in Ligue 1 as they host last-placed Montpellier HSC at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. After a heavy defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, Lille dropped out of the top four, but a recent draw against Borussia Dortmund has boosted morale. They have a strong home scoring record, netting in 37 consecutive league games, and remain unbeaten against Montpellier in 13 meetings. Conversely, Montpellier’s form is dire with five straight losses and the fewest goals scored this season. Predictions lean heavily towards Lille, likely winning 3-0 against a struggling Montpellier side.
Sports Mole offers a preview of Saturday’s Ligue 1 matchup between Lille and Montpellier HSC, including predictions, team news, and potential lineups.
Lille aims to reclaim a position in Ligue 1’s top four as they host struggling bottom-placed side Montpellier HSC at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy this Saturday.
This match comes in between Lille’s two-legged Champions League round of 16 showdown with Borussia Dortmund, but securing a return to that competition next season is equally crucial at this moment.
Match preview
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After suffering a heavy defeat against league leaders Paris Saint-Germain and with Monaco’s victory over Reims, Lille fell out of the top four again last weekend, just a week after they had entered it.
However, morale lifted midweek when Bruno Genesio‘s squad managed to secure an unexpected draw at the Westfalenstadion against Dortmund on Tuesday, courtesy of a dramatic equaliser from Hakon Arnar Haraldsson.
This presents Lille with a significant opportunity to progress to the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time ever, with the home leg set for Wednesday, where Les Dogues have performed well this season.
Yet, their form in Ligue 1 has dipped recently, jeopardizing their chances of a return to the tournament next season.
With three losses in their last six league outings, they have already lost more games than in their first 18 matches of the season (two), slipping to fifth place, two points behind Monaco and five points adrift of Nice.
Nonetheless, one encouraging statistic is that Lille have found the back of the net in 37 consecutive home matches in Ligue 1, a streak that extends back to February 2023, marking the longest run in the top five European leagues.
Additionally, Lille’s recent record against Montpellier is strong, as they remain unbeaten in their last 13 encounters, representing the club’s best-ever run against this opponent.
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There is no doubt that Lille will head into this match as massive favorites, particularly given that Montpellier has faced five consecutive losses— the longest active streak in Ligue 1—and managed to score only one goal during this stretch.
This marks the club’s worst losing streak in over 20 years, extended by a 4-0 defeat at home to Rennes last weekend, which can arguably be considered their most disappointing result.
With the fewest goals scored (21) and the most goals conceded (58) in the league, Jean-Louis Gasset‘s side has little to cling to, as their 16-year stay in the top division seems likely to conclude in the year they celebrate their 50th anniversary.
Currently, they sit five points behind relegation playoff team Le Havre and seven points from safety, indicating that the 2012 French champions are in serious trouble.
Next up, they will face Saint-Etienne and Le Havre—two teams also in the relegation mix—at the Stade de la Mosson, in matches that could define Montpellier’s season.
Lille Ligue 1 form:
Lille form (all competitions):
Montpellier HSC Ligue 1 form:
Team News
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Lille will have Nabil Bentaleb available again after he was ineligible against Dortmund due to registration issues, but Samuel Umtiti and Tiago Santos continue to be sidelined with long-term knee injuries.
Edon Zhegrova remains unavailable due to a groin injury that has kept him out for three months, while Osame Sahraoui is ruled out with a hip problem.
Genesio may consider rotating his squad with an eye on the Dortmund match, potentially resting Jonathan David and allowing Chuba Akpom to lead the attack.
Tanguy Coulibaly returns from suspension for Montpellier, but promising young player Khalil Fayad will miss out due to a ban from accumulating too many yellow cards.
The Moroccan joins a lengthy list of absentees that has posed consistent challenges for manager Gasset since his appointment.
The defensive unit comprising Issiaga Sylla, Becir Omeragic, Nikola Maksimovic, and Christopher Jullien remains unavailable, along with young forward Othmane Maamma, who has been absent for the last three outings.
Lille possible starting lineup:
Chevalier; Meunier, Diakite, Alexsandro, Gudmundsson; Bentaleb, Andre, Andre Gomes; Ang Gomes, Akpom, Bakker
Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:
Lecomte; Tchato, Meite, Kouyate, Sagnan, Sainte-Luce; Ferri, Chotard, Savanier; Delort, Khazri
We say: Lille 3-0 Montpellier
Even with a significant match awaiting at the Mauroy on Wednesday, Genesio must ensure his players remain focused on this essential fixture that is critical for their ambitions to finish in the top four.
Montpellier has struggled to find the net in eight of their 11 away league games this season—more than in the last two seasons combined—and there is little evidence to suggest they will improve on that front in this match, especially following five consecutive losses.
For data analysis on the most probable outcomes, scorelines, and more for this match, please click here.
