Montpellier vs Toulouse Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 French Ligue 1
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Since their defeat to the Olympique de Marseille last weekend, Montpellier Herault decided to sack manager Michel Der Zakarian and they begin their new era by facing another struggling side, Toulouse.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday 27th October, 2024 - UK – 4:00pm / US ET – 12:00pm / US PT – 9:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports
MONTPELLIER PREVIEW: NEW ERA FOR MONTPELLIER
Armenian coach Michel Der Zakarian was sacked last weekend when Montpellier Herault suffered a 5-0 hammering at the hands of potentially title challenging Olympique de Marseille in their most recent outing, last weekend, with the goals scored by Elye Wahi, Amine Harit, Mason Greenwood, Luiz Henrique and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
Der Zakarian has been replaced by life-long Montpellier supporter and former Marseille boss, 72-year-old Jean-Louis Gasset, who was sacked by the Ivory Coast after the group stages of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year. The Ivorians went on to win that tournament under Emerse Fae.
TOULOUSE PREVIEW: TOULOUSE NEED TO WIN
Carlos Martinez Novell is tipped up as the likeliest to be the next man shown the door after Der Zakarian after Toulouse’s really poor start to the campaign in which they are hovering just above the bottom three and the danger zone with just one victory in their opening eight matches so far this season.
The visitors come into this one on the back of a really frustrating and disappointing 1-1 draw with still winless Angers in their most recent outing, last weekend, at the Stadium de Toulouse. They went behind early on to a strike from Ibrahima Niane before former Watford and AFC Bournemouth forward Josh King scored a second-half equaliser for Toulouse.
MONTPELLIER TEAM NEWS: THE UNKNOWN
Montpellier Herault have a new manager at the helm so the style and selection for this weekend is unknown with several confirmed injury and suspension absentees for this one.
Stefan Dzodic is missing through suspension for this one, whilst the likes of Kiki Kouyate and Theo Sainte-Luce, as well as Mousa Al Tamari, are out injured for the hosts.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Lecomte; Sacko, Toure, Omeragic, Sylla; Chotard, Nzingoula; Nordin, Savanier, Coulibaly; Adams
UNAVAILABLE: Dzodic (Suspended), Kouyate (Injured), Issoufou (Injured), Al Tamari (Injured), Maamma (Injured), Sainte-Luce (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
TOULOUSE TEAM NEWS: A COUPLE OF DOUBTS
Toulouse have been without some key players being out suspended throughout the opening stages of this Ligue 1 campaign such as Charlie Cresswell and Frank Magri.
The visitors now do have a couple of injury doubts but no confirmed absentees due to injury or suspension. Both Gabriel Suazo and Rasmus Nicolaisen are doubtful for this one.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Restes; Sidibe, Cresswell, McKenzie, Akdag; Zajc, Sierro; Babicka, King, Gboho; Aboukhlal
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Gabriel Suazo (Injured), Nicolaisen (Injured)
MONTPELLIER VS TOULOUSE PREDICTION
Montpellier Herault have been entertaining to watch this season but that has mainly been because they have been so loose at the back with 26 goals conceded in their opening eight games. Gasset’s job will be to shut up shop and made them difficult to play against. Toulouse have scored just seven goals in eight games with only two sides having managed fewer so the expectation is for a low-scoring encounter.
MONTPELLIER VS TOULOUSE TIP: UNDER 2.5 GOALS