Relegation-threatened Montpellier HSC will be searching for their first victory in six Ligue 1 matches when they host Angers at the Stade de la Mosson in Sunday's gameweek 17 clash.
La Paillade's 16-year stay in the top division is under threat, with nine points leaving them rock bottom in the standings, while 14th-placed Angers head into the encounter seeking back-to-back top-flight wins to boost their survival hopes.
Match preview
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Montpellier's dismal run this season continued with a loss in their first league outing of 2025, extending their winless run to six games across all competitions.
Their latest defeat in the top division — a 1-0 loss to Lyon at the Groupama Stadium — came off the back of a 4-0 annihilation by Le Puy Foot 43 Auvergne in the Coupe de France round of 64.
La Paillade's exit from the Coupe de France at the hands of their less-fancied opponents demonstrates how horrible their season has been so far.
This term, the travails of the home side are based on their frailties at the back and their lack of firepower up front.
Jean-Louis Gasset's team have shipped 39 goals in the league — the most conceded by any team in the elite division — and are the only side still without a clean sheet this season.
They have not fared any better at the other end of the pitch, with a paltry 15 goals scored across 16 top-flight matches — the joint-second worst scoring record in the league this campaign.
Montpellier's two wins and three draws this term leave them 18th in the standings, seven points adrift of safety.
Nonetheless, the home fans will keep hope alive ahead of the fixture on Sunday, knowing that Gasset's men have earned 100% of their points on their turf, coupled with the visiting side's three-match losing streak at the Stade de la Mosson.
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Angers, meanwhile, have enjoyed a better campaign following their return to the French top flight after a season in Ligue 2.
The Black and Whites ended their league exertions in 2024 with a 2-0 defeat against Rennes at Roazhon Park in gameweek 15.
However, Alexandre Dujeux's men followed that up with a 1-0 win over FC 93 Bobigny BG in the Coupe de France and got their 2025 off to a winning start, clinching a 2-0 league triumph over Brest at the Stade Raymond Kopa on January 5.
Although Dujeux's charges started the campaign in unimpressive fashion, enduring an eight-game winless streak, they have gone on to claim four wins in their last eight games to increase their points tally to 16, which puts them two places above the relegation zone.
Heading into this fixture, Le SCO will be looking to claim consecutive victories in the league for the first time since November 1.
However, the visitors have their work cut out, having lost on their last three trips to the Stade de la Mosson.
Nevertheless, considering the abysmal defensive record of the hosts, coupled with two wins from their last four matches on the road, the visitors will exhibit some level of confidence ahead of Sunday's fixture.
Team News
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For the home side, the defence is a source of concern for Gasset, with many first-choice options sidelined.
Nikola Maksimovic and Boubakar Kouyate will both miss this fixture, with Maksimovic sustaining a thigh injury against Lyon, while the latter is suffering from a knee injury; in their absence, Christopher Jullien is expected to join Becir Omeragic and Modibo Sagnan to form the back three.
The fixture will also come too soon for left-back Lucas Mincarelli and top scorer Arnaud Nordin, who are still on the sidelines, although Joris Chotard is available for selection after serving a one-match ban against Lyon due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
The visitors will be without winger Justin Kalumba, who is recovering from a broken ankle, while Halid Sabanovic is also out of contention for a place in the starting XI due to a long-term injury.
However, regular attacking options Jim Allevinah, Farid El Melali and Himad Abdelli, the latter of whom has five goal involvements, are expected to provide the supply lines to Esteban Lepaul up front.
Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:
Lecomte; Omeragic, Sagnan, Jullien; Tchato, Ferri, Nzingoula, Sylla; Chotard; Adams, Al Tamari
Angers possible starting lineup:
Fofana; Hanin, Lefort, Biumla, Arcus; Belkebla, Aholou; El Melali, Allevinah, Abdelli; Lepaul
We say: Montpellier HSC 1-1 Angers
Montpellier come into this contest on a run of six matches without a victory in all competitions.
Although their form suggests they could suffer another defeat in front of their fans, their record of three wins in Angers' last three visits leaves the match on a knife-edge, setting the stage for a possible 1-1 draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
