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

Winless after seven matches, Strasbourg begin the weekend inside the bottom four, with fears mounting over a potential relegation.

Match preview

While they have only lost two of their opening seven matches, it is the zero in the win column that will be troubling Strasbourg supporters.

Five draws does represent an ability to dig in and grind out a result, but with just five goals scored in their seven matches so far, there is clearly work to do.

Three consecutive stalemates, including two 1-1 draws in that time, have seen Strasbourg build up somewhat of a mini unbeaten run, but that first victory still escapes Le Racing.

Unlike their opponents, Montpellier have not had any issues winning matches this season, having taken three points in a trio of Ligue 1 outings so far.

In sharp contrast to Strasbourg, who have drawn more games than they have any other result this season, Montpellier are yet to record a stalemate in the league.

Despite a return of nine points after seven games, back-to-back defeats will worry the Montpellier faithful, with a loss to Lile two weeks ago followed up with a 2-1 defeat against Angers last weekend.

History suggests that Montpellier are likely to take points once again this weekend, as the hosts currently boast a record reading one defeat in their last 13 meetings with Strasbourg.

Granted, that Strasbourg victory did come in the last fixture between the two, although their previous win before that came all the way back in August 2008.

Montpellier HSC Ligue 1 form:

Strasbourg Ligue 1 form:

Team News

A recent run of bad form for Montpellier could be put down to a wretched injury crisis, with the hosts set to be without five first-team players.

Defenders Faitout Maouassa and Theo Sainte-Luce will not be involved, with the latter expected to be out until May at the earliest.

Sainte-Luce is suffering from an anterior cruciate ligament problem, which is the same issue plaguing Dimitry Bertaud and the goalkeeper is also likely to be out until the new year.

There could be minutes for Pedro Mendes and Stephy Mavididi, with the pair currently nursing knocks that are not thought to be too worrying.

Similarly, the visitors are likely to be down to the bare bones, with as many as seven Strasbourg players missing on Saturday.

Red card suspensions will rule Sanjin Prcic and Maxime Le Marchand out of action, whereas a shoulder problem is preventing Eiji Kawashima from being involved.

Also missing will be Thomas Delaine, Dimitri Lienard, Gerzino Nyamsi and Karol Fila, as the four-man cohort recover from injuries, but none of them are expected to miss too many matches.

Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:

Omlin; Sacko, Jullien, Cozza, Sakho; Chotard, Ferri; Khazri, Savanier, Nordin; Wahi

Strasbourg possible starting lineup:

Sels; Doukoure, Djiku, Perrin; Pierre-Gabriel, Aholou, Thomasson, Bellegarde, Dagba; Diallo, Ajorque

We say: Montpellier HSC 2-0 Strasbourg

Strasbourg can ill-afford anymore slip-ups if they wish to climb up the table and even at this early stage of the campaign, getting points on the board is crucial.

Being said, Montpellier are a side that have dominated this fixture in recent seasons, with another victory for the hosts expected to follow this weekend.

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