Montpellier Vs Nice
Saturday 12 September 2020 – 16:00 (GMT)
France Ligue 1
Pick: Nice or Draw
Odds: 7/10
Bookmaker: Betway
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 9 September 2020)
Preview: Ligue 1 returns following the international break with Nice top of the table after wins in both their opening matches. A trip to Stade de la Mosson, home to a Montpellier side who were immense on their own patch last season, threatens to undermine the perfect start made by Patrick Viera’s charges.
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Table of Contents
Montpellier Preview – First points beckon in first home outing?
La Paillade, without a fixture on the opening weekend, would belatedly get their Ligue 1 campaign underway in much the same way as they finished the last: losing at Rennes’ Roazhon Park. Gaetan Laborde’s stoppage time effort at least ensuring they found the net first time out, though it was a mere consolation at the end of a contest they were easily second best in according to Expected Goals (REN 1.4 – 0.43 MON).
Some first game rust, especially away from their fortress of Stade de la Mosson, was to be expected. Michel Der Zakarian, the Montpellier coach, has now seen his side slump to five consecutive away defeats in Ligue 1, having failed to even score in four. It is a completely different story on home soil, though, where since the start of last season only two visiting teams – PSG and Rennes – have departed with maximum points.
In fact, Montpellier’s fine record at home ranked them third in Ligue 1 last season after winning 10 of 14 (W10 D2 L2) said matches. The hosts are unbeaten in their last five league games on their own patch, winning four, and will also be significantly stronger ahead of Saturday’s home encounter. Andy Delort contributed more goals (9G/3A) last term than any team-mate and is now available after a spell in quarantine.
Nice Preview – Clinical early displays unsustainable?
The only team still to drop a point in Ligue 1 so far are Patrick Viera’s OGC Nice. Some pundits and supporters might even share the same view, that such a strong start was needed to offset such lavish spending across the previous two summer transfer windows as the club strives to break into the top-three. Last season ended with them in fifth, some nine points adrift of Rennes in the third and final Champions League spot.
Despite a perfect start, Les Aiglons haven’t been particularly impressive from an underlying data perspective. They fell behind early in their opening clash at home with RSC Lens (xG: NIC 0.14 – 2.86 LEN), indebted to some brilliant strikes from summer recruit Amine Gouiri, while it was another clinical display next time out away to Strasbourg (STR 0.28 – 1.12 NIC), netting twice from only two attempts.
Kasper Dolberg netted both goals last time out, meaning Nice have benefited from someone scoring a brace in both fixtures so far. The Dane, who finished as the club’s leading marksmen in 2019-20 with 11 Ligue 1 goals, has continued where he left off but returns from international duty having failed to score in either of his nations recent encounters versus Belgium and England.
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Montpellier Vs Nice Betting Advice
We’re not getting too carried away by the start Nice have made, and it would appear neither are bookmakers. The early pacesetters in Ligue 1, with two wins from two, are considerable outsiders for Saturday’s trek to Stade de la Mosson, where the home side, Montpellier, were terrific in the league last season and will look to open their accounts for 2020-21 after losing their only match thus far in Rennes.
Montpellier Vs Nice – Key Facts
- Last season, Montpellier would fail to win only four of fourteen (W10 D2 L2) home Ligue 1 games, with six of these victories coming without shipping a goal.
- Nice, who have won both league games this season, are now unbeaten in their last six away Ligue 1 games (W2 D4).
- The home team has won each of the last six Ligue 1 meetings between these two clubs, with Montpellier bidding for a fourth-straight home win over Nice having won this fixture 2-1 in 2019-20.
Montpellier (W10 D2 L2) ranked third in the Ligue 1 home table last season, whereas Nice (W3 D4 L6) were mediocre on their travels with eleven teams faring better. There is no guarantee either team will repeat those efforts over the course of this season, though, and while it is true Nice have rather flattered to deceive so far, their perfect start will nevertheless breed confidence. 1-1 Draw.
Best Betting Odds – Montpellier Vs Nice
Montpellier – 5/4 (Unibet)
Draw – 23/10 (Bet365)
Nice – 13/5 (Betfair)
