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When Monaco hosts Montpellier HSC at Stade Louis II on Sunday, they will want to reduce the distance between them and the top spot in the Ligue 1 standings.
Montpellier is only three points above the relegation zone after a 1-1 draw with Clermont on Wednesday, while Les Monegasques are still in third place, six points behind Paris Saint-Germain, who defeated them 5-2 last Friday.
Monaco has lost all of its wind recently, having only won one of their past three domestic games while taking home four of a potential twelve points from their last four top-flight games.
This team has performed admirably in the Principality during the current Ligue 1 season, winning five of their six home games.
Their 15 points at Stade Louis II this early in the season are tied with PSG for second place among Ligue 1 teams at home.
They gave up one more goal than they had given up in their five prior league games combined when they lost to the Parisians.
Les Monegasques have been engaged in half of the French top-flight matches with six goals this season, thus we frequently witness the net bulge when Adi Hutter’s team plays.
This team’s record against Montpellier in this competition is 2–1, with a 4-0 loss at Stade Louis II during the previous campaign.
La Paillade have only won one of their last six Ligue 1 games, falling farther down the standings every week for more than a month.
They gave it their all against Clermont earlier this week, recording 32 shots, which is the second-highest total for them since Opta started keeping track of such statistics in 2006–07 and two fewer than their game on March 11, 2012.
Just two of their eight goals (including their Wednesday equaliser, which came from the penalty spot three minutes before the 90) that they have scored domestically since the beginning of October have occurred in the first forty-five minutes.
Despite losing their last four league games, they haven’t gone without three points in this competition since October–November 2022 (seven).
After starting the season with at least a point in three of their first four away games, Michel Der Zakarian’s team lost both of their past two Ligue 1 away games as they were outscored by a total of 5-0.
Montpellier has lost more games than any other opponent in Ligue 1 against Monaco, despite having points in two of their last three trips to the Principality (32 losses in 58 matches).
Monaco Ligue 1 form:
W W L W D L
Montpellier HSC Ligue 1 form:
L W L D L D
After suffering a shoulder injury, Eliesse Ben Seghir is getting close to rejoining Monaco, and Myron Boadu will probably need a few weeks to recover from his muscle strain.
Les Monegasques’ injured players Caio Henrique and Breel Embolo are still out due to cruciate ligament rupture they suffered earlier in the season.
Takumi Minamino contributed to both of Les Monegasques’ goals in Paris. He first scored in the 22nd minute and then helped Folarin Balogun score the consolation goal, which was the American’s first since matchday eight.
Maxime Esteve has had a difficult few games. On matchday 12, the Montpellier defender scored an own goal in their 3-1 loss to Brest. He was dismissed deep into stoppage time on Wednesday, and he will be suspended for this match.
Leo Leroy (groin), Christopher Jullien (foot), and Issiaga Sylla (calf) may have entirely recovered from their injuries sustained in early December, meaning Montpellier might have three players back in the starting lineup very soon.
Teji Savanier scored his fourth goal of the Ligue 1 season late in the game to enable La Paillade salvage a draw against Clermont.
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
