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

Les Monegasques are currently third, six points behind Paris Saint-Germain, who beat them 5-2 last Friday, while Montpellier are just three points above the relegation line following a 1-1 draw with Clermont on Wednesday.

Match preview

Monaco have had the wind knocked out of their sails of late, winning just one of their previous three domestic encounters while claiming four out of a possible 12 points from their last four top-flight affairs.

Throughout the new Ligue 1 campaign, this side have been exceptional when playing in the Principality, winning five of their six home fixtures.

Their 15 points at Stade Louis II at this stage of the campaign are the second-most among Ligue 1 sides at home this season, just one fewer than PSG.

The five goals they conceded against the Parisians were one more than this side had given up in their five previous league fixtures combined.

When Adi Hutter's men take part in a Ligue 1 fixture, we tend to see the net bulge plenty of times, as half of the French top-flight matches with six goals this season have involved Les Monegasques.

This team have lost two of their previous three matches versus Montpellier in this competition, including a 4-0 defeat at Stade Louis II last season.

For over a month, La Paillade have slid further down the table week after week, winning just one of their previous six Ligue 1 encounters.

Earlier this week, they threw everything at Clermont, registering 32 shots, the second-most for them since Opta began collecting that data in 2006-07, two fewer than their match against Caen on March 11, 2012.

Only two of their eight goals scored domestically since the beginning of October have come in the opening 45 minutes, including their equaliser on Wednesday, which came from the penalty spot, three minutes before the 90.

They have gone winless in four successive league games but have not suffered a longer drought without three points in this competition since October-November 2022 (seven).

In their previous two Ligue 1 away fixtures, Michel Der Zakarian's men were outscored by a combined margin of 5-0, losing both encounters, after beginning the season with at least a point in three of their first four matches as the visitors.

While they have points in two of their last three visits to the Principality, Montpellier have lost more games to Monaco in Ligue 1 than any other opponent (32 defeats in 58 matches).

Monaco Ligue 1 form:

W

W

L

W

D

L

Montpellier HSC Ligue 1 form:

L

W

L

D

L

D

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Team News

Eliesse Ben Seghir is nearing a return to the Monaco lineup after sustaining a shoulder injury, while Myron Boadu is likely a few weeks away from healing from his muscle strain.

Caio Henrique and Breel Embolo remain sidelined for Les Monegasques, having each sustained cruciate ligament tears earlier this season.

Takumi Minamino was involved in both goals for Les Monegasques in Paris, scoring in the 22nd minute, before assisting on the consolation strike by Folarin Balogun, the first for the American since matchday eight.

It has been a rough couple of matches for Maxime Esteve as the Montpellier defender scored an own-goal in their defeat to Brest (3-1) on matchday 12 and he will be suspended for this encounter following his expulsion deep into stoppage time on Wednesday.

Montpellier could have three players returning to the lineup very soon as Issiaga Sylla (calf), Leo Leroy (groin) and Christopher Jullien (foot) may be fully healed from their injuries in early December.

A late penalty converted by Teji Savanier helped rescue a point for La Paillade against Clermont, with the captain netting his fourth of the Ligue 1 campaign.

Monaco possible starting lineup:

Kohn; Singo, Maripan, Magassa; Vanderson, Fofana, Zakaria, Jakobs; Minamino, Golovin; Ben Yedder

Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:

Lecomte; Sacko, Kouyate, Tchato, Sainte-Luce; Omeragic, Ferri; Al-Tamari, Savanier, Nordin; Adams

We say: Monaco 3-1 Montpellier HSC

Montpellier have had their struggles defensively away from home, conceding multiple goals in three of their domestic road fixtures this season.

As poor as Les Monegasques were defensively last Friday, we expect their quality attacking players to take their frustrations out on La Paillade.

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