Lyon vs Montpellier Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 French Ligue 1
THE FACTS
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
When is Lyon vs Montpellier on and what time does it start? Lyon vs Montpellier will take place on Saturday 19th August, 2023 – 16:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Lyon vs Montpellier? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Lyon vs Montpellier on in the UK? TNT Sports have the rights to Ligue 1 matches in the UK, so it is worth checking their schedule for Lyon vs Montpellier
Where can I stream Lyon vs Montpellier in the UK? If Lyon vs Montpellier is televised on TNT Sports, then subscribers can stream the match live on discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
LYON
Last season, Olympique Lyonnais started badly under Peter Bosz but, with Laurent Blanc in charge, gradually improved as the season went on, narrowly missing out on a top six finish and European qualification in the end. This time around, though, there is already uncertainty with the former France manager suggesting he doesn’t know whether he will remain at Parc OL for that long.
They started their 2023/24 Ligue 1 campaign, on the back of that fairly frustrating summer in which their transfer business has also been quite slow and fairly underwhelming, with a 2-1 loss away to a resurgent and now financially powerful Strasbourg side last weekend. Strasbourg got into a 2-0 lead before Nicolas Tagliafico scored a late goal which proved to be just a consolation for Lyon.
MONTPELLIER
Montpellier Herault come into this on the back of a frustrating opening day draw with newly-promoted Le Havre last weekend. In that match, they fell behind early on to Le Havre before eventually turning it around in the second-half with a quick-fire brace from Akor Adams but Le Havre pinched an opening day point in the 90th minute via Samuel Grandsir.
Under the management of Armenian Michel Der Zakarian, Montpellier may well be one of the lesser fancied teams to struggle that do end up struggling in the reduced Ligue 1 campaign, having seen the number of teams go from 20 to 18 over the summer and that be something to likely raise the competitiveness and congested nature of mid-table, where the club have been able to comfortably reside for a few years. Last year’s 12th placed finish, for example, is a lot less ‘mid-table mediocrity’ than it once was.
THE TEAM NEWS
LYON
Despite their defeat to a Strasbourg side that could be quite impressive this season, Olympique Lyonnais are likely to name an unchanged side with a 4-2-3-1 system preferred by Laurent Blanc. They are not full strength due to injuries to both Antony Lopes and Dejan Lovren.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Riou; Mata, Caleta-Car, Diomande, Tagliafico; Tolisso, Lepenant; Barcola, Caqueret, Cherki; Lacazette
UNAVAILABLE: Lopes (Injured), Lovren (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
MONTPELLIER
Michel Der Zakarian went with a 4-2-3-1 system against Lyon last week and given that they came within just a few minutes of starting the season with a victory, they will likely be unchanged with their only unavailable player being the still injured Theo Sainte-Luce.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Lecomte; Sacko, Jullien, Kouyate, Sylla; Chotard, Ferri; Al-Taamari, Savanier, Khazri; Adams
UNAVAILABLE: Sainte-Luce (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
Olympique Lyonnais will still be expected to push toward the top six and the UEFA Europa Conference League spots at the very least, despite their poor start to the season, lacklustre summer and manager being uncertain about his own future. Montpellier, as mentioned, may well be a little concerned about heading the other way but there is a good chance that, not in terms of personnel as Lyon’s squad boasts a lot of pedigree, but on the pitch these end up being two evenly matched sides with frailties defensively and, with that in mind, both teams scoring looks a good bet for this one.
TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
