Preview: Lyon vs. Montpellier HSC - prediction, team news, lineups

Les Gones came from behind to sink Strasbourg 2-1 last time out, while their visitors shocked Monaco in a 4-0 romping at the Stade Louis II.

Match preview

Having been put to the sword by Choc des Olympiques rivals Marseille in the most heartbreaking of circumstances, Lyon were also staring down the barrel of defeat against Strasbourg when Morgan Sanson prodded home the opening goal on the 15-minute mark last Friday.

However, Castello Lukeba restored parity for Les Gones just after the half-hour mark before a fine finish from Maxence Caqueret completed a first-half turnaround, and an injury-time sending off for Lukeba would not cancel out his telling efforts earlier in the match.

Firmly on an upward trajectory with Laurent Blanc working his magic, Lyon are making a late push for continental qualification, sitting seventh in the Ligue 1 table with six points to make up to Lille in fifth place, but it might be a case of too little too late for Les Gones.

Defeat to Marseille on April 23 represents Lyon's only loss from their last nine Ligue 1 contests, while Les Gones have also made the net ripple in each of their last seven games at the Groupama Stadium, but home is not always where the heart is for Blanc's side.

Indeed, Lyon have only come up trumps in two of their eight Ligue 1 matches on familiar territory since the turn of the year - their tally of nine home points in 2023 is only better than Ajaccio, Troyes and already-relegated Angers - and Montpellier needed no lessons in demolishing one of the division's most esteemed clubs on the road last time out.

Not long after being downed 3-0 by title-chasing Lens, Monaco experienced another humiliating afternoon in front of a muted Stade Louis II crowd, as Montpellier made a worthwhile visit to the Principality to hit Les Monegasques for four without reply.

Arnaud Nordin was the unexpected star of the show, scoring a first-ever Ligue 1 brace before setting up Stephy Mavididi to complete the demolition job, while left-back Faitout Maouassa also got in on the act during a phenomenal display from Michel Der Zakarian's men.

Even after putting Rennes to the sword 1-0 on April 23, few could have envisaged La Paillade making it back-to-back wins in such an emphatic manner, and Der Zakarian's side are now sitting pretty in 12th place in the table - potentially just one game away from mathematical safety.

A record of seven wins from 11 since Der Zakarian's homecoming is the best of its kind in the division since matchday 23, while Montpellier have also found the back of the net in all of their matches under the Armenian, whose side coped without influential skipper Teji Savanier remarkably well last time out.

After Montpellier won three games in a row against Lyon between 2019 and 2021, Les Gones have since prevailed in each of the last three meetings between the two clubs, although they had to rely on a 90th-minute Alexandre Lacazette strike to beat La Paillade 2-1 in October, in a game where both sides finished the contest with 10 men.

Lyon Ligue 1 form:

D

W

W

W

L

W

Lyon form (all competitions):

W

L

W

W

L

W

Montpellier HSC Ligue 1 form:

W

D

L

L

W

W

Team News

Lyon's highly-rated defender Lukeba will serve a one-match ban this weekend due to his sending-off in the win over Strasbourg, while experienced midfielder Corentin Tolisso has also incurred an identical suspension for a totting-up of yellow cards.

Left-back Nicolas Tagliafico missed the win over Strasbourg due to concussion and may not be given the green light to return just yet either, while 19-year-old starlet Mohamed El Arouch is nursing an ankle problem but would have never started here anyway.

With Lukeba absent, Blanc could be tempted to revert to a four-man backline, allowing Rayan Cherki to return to the attack in support of Bradley Barcola and Lacazette, whose 13 goal contributions against Montpellier (seven strikes of his own and five assists) are a personal high.

As for Montpellier, Savanier is still banned after seeing red in the recent win over Rennes, while centre-back Kiki Kouyate has picked up three bookings in the space of 10 matches and will sit this one out too.

Maxime Esteve (groin), Theo Sainte-Luce (calf) and Beni Makouana (thigh) are also out of contention for the visitors, who should call upon Tunisian veteran Wahbi Khazri to fill the Savanier role once more.

Having made quite the impact in a more advanced role at Monaco, Maouassa should continue on the left-wing ahead of Mavididi, while Enzo Tchato and Mamadou Sakho will go head-to-head to deputise for the suspended Kouyate.

Lyon possible starting lineup:

Lopes; Kumbedi, Diomande, Lovren, Silva; Caqueret, Mendes, Aouar; Cherki, Lacazette, Barcola

Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:

Omlin; Sacko, Sakho, Jullien, Sylla; Ferri, Chotard; Nordin, Khazri, Maouassa; Wahi

We say: Lyon 2-2 Montpellier HSC

Even with creator-in-chief Savanier helplessly watching on, Montpellier tore Monaco to shreds last weekend and can expect similar joy in front of goal against a leaky and depleted Lyon backline.

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