Montpellier HSC will aim to continue their impressive revival under Michel Der Zakarian when Clermont visit the Stade de la Mosson on Sunday.
Having won four of their last five games, Montpellier find themselves one point and one place below Clermont, who have managed to win just one of their previous eight outings.
Match preview
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Following a run of six defeats in seven games across January and February, Michel Der Zakarian replaced caretaker manager Romain Pitau in the Stade de la Mosson hot seat, and the new boss wasted no time in transforming the team's fortunes.
Indeed, Montpellier remain unbeaten since the managerial change, taking 13 points from a possible 15 to ignite the new era and ease relegation fears at the club.
La Paillade kicked off their revival with a 3-0 victory over Brest before securing a 1-0 win at Troyes, with a 1-1 draw against Champions League-cashing Lens coming the following weekend.
After returning to winning ways with a 5-0 thrashing of bottom club Angers, Montpellier clinched a 1-0 victory at Ajaccio last time out, picking up a fourth win in five matches to cement their status as one of the league's most in-form teams.
Not only have Der Zakarian's men scored 11 goals across their five-game hot streak, but they have also kept four clean sheets while conceding just once, underlining their remarkable run.
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By contrast, Clermont have managed to win just one of their last eight league matches, taking six points from a possible 24 since defeating Angers back in mid-January.
To make matters worse, Pascal Gastien's side have lost four of their previous six encounters, with 2-0 defeats to Monaco, Marseille and Rennes preceding a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Lens last weekend.
Lois Openda netted a stunning five-minute hat-trick to fire Lens to a dominant victory at the Stade Gabriel-Montpied, extending Clermont's winless run on home soil to five matches in the process.
While Clermont have struggled at home this season – winning just four of their 14 league games at the Stade Gabriel-Montpied – they have enjoyed plenty of success on their travels, with only four losses coming in their 13 away outings.
Only five sides have a better away record than Les Lanciers this term, while only three teams have conceded fewer goals on the road, so Clermont will fancy their chances of halting Montpellier's hot streak.
Team News
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Montpellier's injury list contains five players, with Dimitry Bertaud (knee), Maxime Esteve (injury), Leo Leroy (muscle), Beni Makouana (injury) and Theo Sainte-Luce (knee) on the sidelines.
Elye Wahi has taken his game to another level under Der Zakarian, bagging three goals and one assist in his last four league appearances, so the 20-year-old could be handed a start after coming off the bench – and scoring – in the last two matches.
Club captain Teji Tedy Savanier has also caught the eye of late, scoring seven goals across his previous 12 league outings, including a brace in the 5-0 thrashing of Angers.
Clermont look set to be without the injured duo of Maximiliano Caufriez and Elbasan Rashani for the foreseeable future, while centre-back Alidu Seidu remains sidelined due to a knee problem.
Top scorer Komnen Andric has not found the back of the net since November, while key playmaker Muhammed Cham's last goal came back on New Year's Day.
Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:
Lecomte; Sacko, Jullien, Kouyate, Sylla; Ferri, Chotard; Nordin, Savanier, Maouassa; Wahi
Clermont possible starting lineup:
Diaw; Konate, Wieteska, Ogier; Allevinah, Magnin, Gonalons, Borges; Cham, Maurer; Andric
We say: Montpellier HSC 2-0 Clermont
Given that Montpellier have won four of their five league games since Der Zakarian's arrival, the hosts look set to cruise to a comfortable victory over Clermont, who have lost four of their previous six matches.
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Top tip
Ben Morris
