Strasbourg V Montpellier
Sunday 29th September 2019 – 14:00 Kick-Off
French Ligue 1
Pick: Draw
Odds: 11/5
Bookmaker: Bet365
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17/10 | 21/10 | 9/5 |
* (All betting odds displayed were correct as of 26th September 2019 at 13:40)
Preview: A Strasbourg team which will begin the weekend in lowly 17th are targeting back-to-back home successes on Sunday. Montpellier have made a stronger start though, occupying 10th, but cannot escape the fact they are without an away win thus far. Who are we backing to prevail at the Stade de le Meinau?
French Football Betting – 22Bet
Strasbourg Preview – Can Le Racing make it back-to-back wins at home?
Manager Thierry Laurey would celebrate a first win of the campaign last weekend as Strasbourg fought back from an early deficit to defeat Nantes 2-1 inside their Stade de le Meinau. Prior to that, Laurey had endured a testing start to the season at the managerial helm, overseeing three draws and a couple of losses as his team begun 2019/20 as they finished 2018/19 – struggling to win matches in Ligue 1.
Le Racing would waste little time reverting to the norm, though, deservedly losing 2-0 away to a promising Lille side in midweek. The xG from that contest (LIL 2.85 – 0.29 STR) suggesting Le Racing were very fortunate to escape with only a modest loss. Fortunately for them they are back at the scene of their recent triumph for this particular fixture. Five of the six points earned so far were registered in home fixtures (W1 D2 L1), with Rennes (0-2) the only side to beat them on their own patch thus far.
Not that we are advising anyone to rush into backing them. After all, this is still a team with only one win under their belts in 2019/20, occupying 17th in the table (W1 D3 L3). Furthermore, since February it is two wins from twelve in the league (W2 D6 L4) – and one win in the last eight at home (W1 D4 L3). This same fixture, meanwhile, fell into that same period: a 3-1 defeat in April.
Montpellier Preview – La Paillade to finally end their search for away win?
This has been a strong start to the Ligue 1 season for manager Michel Der Zakarian and his Montpellier team, whose battling qualities came to the fore once again during the week to defeat Nimes 1-0 at home. The team were indebted to another goal from summer signing Arnaud Souquet, who now has two for the season – both of them winning efforts in 1-0 successes – despite being a defender by trade. The 27-year-old is 15/1 to score anytime with Unibet.
That result in midweek was a touch fortunate (xG: MON 0.52 – 0.81 NIM), with La Paillade surprisingly subdued in front of their supporters as they struggled to carve out many quality scoring opportunities. Nevertheless, it was another set of priceless three points, their third of the campaign to lift them back into the top half of the league table (10th – W3 D2 L2, GF6 GA5). It was also their third consecutive win at home.
On the road it hasn’t been anywhere near as successful. Drawing 1-1 on their latest adventure, in a hot-tempered encounter with Marseille, was credible, as that is never an easy venue to get a result in. However, it did leave them still searching for a first away win of the season, having earlier drew at Bordeaux (1-1) and lost away to Nantes (1-0). Montpellier toiled a little in front of goal in all three but particularly on their latest outing at Marseille (xGF of 0.09!).
Strasbourg V Montpellier Key Facts:
- Strasbourg have registered five of their six points in Ligue 1 this season from home fixtures (W1 D2 L1).
- Montpellier are still to win away from home in Ligue 1 this season (D2 L1).
- Strasbourg have failed to win any of the last five meetings (D3 L2), losing 3-1 at home in 2018/19.
Betting Summary
Some of the momentum gained from Strasbourg securing a first win of the season last weekend, when beating Nantes 2-1 on home soil, was relinquished in Lille during the week. Even so, this does look an excellent opportunity for Thierry Laurey’s men to make it two wins from two at their Stade de la Meinau, facing a team which has been known to labour on their travels this season. Just two wins at home since February (W2 D6 L4) is startling, however.
Impressive at home but poor when not. That is this season in a nutshell for Montpellier, with the bulk of the better performances – and results – earned in front of their home supporters. On the road it is no win in three (D2 L1), and while drawing with Marsille in the latest of those seems encouraging, it was a fortunate result after creating very few chances throughout the 90 minutes.
Strasbourg can consider themselves unfortunate to be as far down in the Ligue 1 standings as they are. Montpellier, too, could be higher up were it not for some disappointing displays away from home. Therefore there is the distinct possiblity of these two cancelling each other out; and with draws a common theme for both (Strasbourg drawing 50% of the time at home and Montpellier 66% away), the draw does hold some appeal.
