Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

St Etiennevs.Montpellier

sportsmole.co.uk, today at 06:50
Ligue 1 conjures up an early-season relegation six-pointer on Saturday, when Saint-Etienne welcome Montpellier HSC to the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.

Both clubs enter the weekend in the relegation zone, and unsurprisingly have the worst two defensive records in the division, while only Le Havre have netted fewer goals.

Match preview

Returning to home comforts could be very important for Saint-Etienne this weekend, because after an impressive 2-0 win over Strasbourg in their last outing here, they lost 1-0 at Lyon just before the international break in the Rhone-Alpes derby.

Despite having top-half home form, with nine of their 10 points coming here at the Guichard, that woeful away record is what is keeping them down in the bottom three.

Some damaging defeats - most notably the 8-0 at Nice - means ASSE's goal difference currently sits at minus-15, and leaves them below Angers and Nantes in the Ligue 1 standings.

Twenty-five goals conceded in their opening 11 games is the joint-worst Saint-Etienne have let in at this stage of a campaign for 60 years, and that is compounded by the fact their meagre tally of 10 league goals is also their worst amount since 2009.

Les Verts usually enjoyed matchdays against Montpellier, winning eight in a row between 2013 and 2016, but prior to their relegation, that record faltered, winning just three of the last 11 head-to-heads.

Failing to improve on that record will be hugely disappointing for Olivier Dall'Oglio's team here, considering Montpellier have lost all five away league games so far.

The visitors are one of just four clubs in Europe's top-five leagues yet to win a single point on the road this season, but they will hope that Jean-Louis Gasset getting off the mark before the international break can breed confidence in the side.

After suffering five straight defeats - two of which came under Gasset - Montpellier signed off in style, beating Champions League dark horses Brest 3-1, but that was still not enough to lift them off the bottom of the table.

La Paillade remain rooted to the foot of the table, three points from safety with a dreadful goal difference, given that no team in Europe's top-five leagues have conceded more than their 31 so far.

They have already equalled their worst run of consecutive games without a clean sheet in the 21st century, with the goal conceded against Brest extending that run to 17 matches - the same amount of games they went without one between March 2003 and March 2004.

One positive the visitors can cling onto ahead of this encounter is that they have won their last four matches against newly-promoted teams in Ligue 1, including a gameweek five win over Auxerre back in September.

Saint-Etienne Ligue 1 form:

D

W

L

L

W

L

Montpellier HSC Ligue 1 form:

L

L

L

L

L

W

Team News

Despite a difficult run during October, Saint-Etienne's Zuriko Davitashvili was named Ligue 1 Player of the Month last week, scoring all five of the club's goals across three matches.

Joining the Georgian in attack could be Ibrahima Wadji, who returned as a late substitute versus Lyon, but Ben Old remains a doubt after missing New Zealand duty last week.

Mickael Nade suffered a sprained knee in their last outing and is set to miss out, while a more serious knee injury will also keep Anthony Briancon sidelined for a little longer.

Montpellier will be without both Jordan Ferri and Birama Toure due to suspension here, but they will be able to call upon midfield duo Teji Savanier and Stefan Dzodic, after both completed their respective bans after the win over Brest.

Defence remains a big issue for the visitors though, with Christopher Jullien, Kiki Kouyate, Theo Sainte-Luce, Becir Omeragic and Lucas Mincarelli all missing out recently with injury.

Othmane Maamma is back from a recent setback though, as he represented Morocco's Under-20s during the recent break, but Joris Chotard and Khalil Fayad are set to remain out.

Saint-Etienne possible starting lineup:

Larsonneur; Macon, Batubinkisa, Abdelhamid, Petrot; Ekwah, Bouchouari, Cafaro; Boakye, Wadji, Davitashvili

Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:

Lecomte; Tchato, Maksimovic, Sagnan, Sylla; Nzingoula, Savanier; Al-Tamari, Khazri, Nordin; Adams

We say: Saint-Etienne 1-1 Montpellier HSC

Montpellier took 14 points from their final six away games last season, and after getting their first win under Gasset before the break, this could be the perfect chance to open their account on the road.

Previews by email

Top News

21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Oxford United play host to Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon looking for the win that will move them away from the relegation zone. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bristol City play host to Burnley on Saturday afternoon with the opportunity to catapult themselves up the Championship table. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After losing four games in a row across all competitions for the first time under manager Pep Guardiola, Manchester City will endeavour to return to winning ways during a tricky fixture schedule leading up to Christmas. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The faltering title hopefuls meet the unexpected Champions League challengers on Saturday afternoon, as Arsenal and Nottingham Forest collide at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League. 21 November 2024 talksport.com The chance to make your first senior start in professional football is what any player dreams of - unless you've been up partying all night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo will have to assess a couple of his international contingent before Saturday's Premier League game against Arsenal at the Emirates. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo has opened up on what the impact of moving to Saudi Arabia had on his family. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has several fitness doubts to assess for Saturday's Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest at the Emirates. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Remarkably only separated by goal difference in the Premier League standings, ailing Arsenal and high-flying Nottingham Forest prepare for an intriguing battle at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will be aiming to make it successive wins in La Liga when they travel to Leganes on Sunday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City could be boosted by the return of several first-team stars for Saturday's Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City will endeavour to close the five-point gap to Premier League leaders Liverpool when they welcome Tottenham Hotspur to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Juan Mata has made history by investing in new MLS outfit San Diego FC. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim's first taste of Premier League football will come on Sunday afternoon, when he leads his Manchester United team against Ipswich Town at Portman Road. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Ruben Amorim is reportedly backing Manchester United to re-sign Angel Gomes as part of his Old Trafford rebuild. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Celtic will be looking to remain top of the Scottish Premiership when they take on Hearts at an unusual time this weekend. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Brighton may have unearthed another gem, this time their impressive web of recruitment has landed Diego Gomez. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Steve Cooper would like at least two new signings in the January transfer window to go straight into his Leicester starting line-up, talkSPORT understands. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona will be aiming to return to winning ways when they head to Celta Vigo in La Liga on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Lille president Olivier Letang has ruled out a January departure for Jonathan David, as the French outfit battle to convince the in-demand centre-forward to sign a new contract at Stade Pierre-Mauroy. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Fabian Hurzeler has a debilitating fitness crisis to work around for Saturday's Premier League clash with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Gary Neville has lifted the lid on his relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo following the Portuguese star's infamous pitchside snub. 21 November 2024 talksport.com talkSPORT.com is here to keep you up to date with all the latest news from the Premier League and beyond. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are allegedly planning to sign a new left-back next year, with an incoming in that area of the field during the January transfer window regarded as a possibility. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola will be forced into at least one midfield alteration for Saturday's Premier League clash with Brighton & Hove Albion at the Vitality Stadium. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two South Coast outfits collide at the Vitality Stadium in Saturday's Premier League battle, as Bournemouth scrap it out with Brighton & Hove Albion. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Ed Sheeran persuaded one major signing to join Ipswich this summer by speaking to him moments before joining Taylor Swift on stage. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk New Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has reportedly spoken to Sporting Lisbon centre-back Ousmane Diomande about a possible move to Old Trafford next year. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk It is fair to say that November's international break came at a suitable time for an injury-hit Manchester City side that have lost each of their last four matches in all competitions for the first time under manager Pep Guardiola. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Forget Usain Bolt, some of the fastest athletes on the planet are strutting their stuff in the Premier League.
Sat 23 Nov, 14:00
A
Verona Verona
-
sch
Inter Inter
Sat 23 Nov, 20:00
L1
Reims Reims
-
sch
Lyon Lyon