Preview: Angers vs. Montpellier HSC - prediction, team news, lineups

Angers welcome Montpellier HSC to the Stade Raymond-Kopa in a mid-table dead rubber as the Ligue 1 campaign enters its final matchday on Saturday evening.

The two sides enter game number 38 14th and 13th in the table respectively, but it will be the hosts who are the more content with their finishing position.

Match preview

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Angers produced a stunning start to the season - losing just one of their opening nine games - and, whilst that early form did fade away, they have spent the season looking comfortable in mid table.

They suddenly found themselves in a spot of bother coming into their encounter with Bordeaux a fortnight ago, however, after a shocking run of form that had seen them pick up just one win since late January.

A 4-1 win over Les Girondins would be enough to all but secure their survival, and it was then fully confirmed last weekend despite a 1-0 loss away at recovering Metz.

Didier Lamkel Ze scored the game's only goal five minutes into the second half in a game where Les Grenats clearly had more to fight for.

So, a somewhat underwhelming campaign comes to an end for Gerald Baticle's side, but they end in the same area of the table they have in recent years and will get another attempt to push up in the standings next season.

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Whilst Angers certainly endured a poor run of form in 2022, Montpellier's fall from grace has perhaps been even more spectacular.

At the turn of the year, they were eyeing up a continental adventure next season, sat in fifth and only behind Rennes on goal difference.

The wheels gradually fell off that charge, though, and a run of six games without a win - and only one in their last 12 - has seen La Paillade drop all the way to 13th.

Things have maybe hit rock bottom in the last fortnight, with a 2-1 loss to minnows Clermont and then a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of the previously stuttering champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Olivier Dall'Oglio and his side will now have the chance to enter the summer on something of a high with a win on Saturday, ahead of what will surely be a summer rebuild.

Team News

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Angers will be without Sofiane Boufal and Jimmy Cabot through injury - thigh and ankle issues respectively - but Pierrick Capelle was fit enough for the bench last time out and may now feature.

Souleyman Doumbia will also be back having served his suspension and the left-back is expected to return to his spot in a back five.

Meanwhile, Montpellier's left-back Ambroise Oyongo was available after his one-game ban last time out but started on the bench, with Mihailo Ristic remaining in the starting XI.

After the mauling from the champions, however, Dall'Oglio may choose to return to the former.

Captain and talisman Teji Savanier remains out in a bitter blow for La Paillade, with first-choice goalkeeper Jonas Omlin, Elye Wahi, Mamadou Sakho and Remy Cabella also in the treatment room.

Angers possible starting lineup:

Mandrea; Lage, Manceau, Traore, Ebosse, Doumbia; Fulgini, Bentaleb, Mendy; Bahoken, Cho

Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:

Bertaud; Cozza, Esteve, Mendes; Souquet, Chotard, Ferri, Oyongo; Mollet; Mavididi, Germain

We say: Angers 2-1 Montpellier HSC

This game is a tricky one to call with both sides having so little to play for. However, the visitors have the worse form and are feeling their key absences so we are backing a narrow home win.

For additional data used by our team to analyse our suggested result please click here.