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Ligue 1 | Gameweek 7
Oct 1, 2023 at 4.05pm UK
Stade Yves Allainmat - Le Moustoir
Montpellier

Lorient
0 - 3
Montpellier


Ponceau (20'), Talbi (33')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Adams (30', 89'), Savanier (73' pen.)
Esteve (61')

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

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Ligue 1 clash between Lorient and Montpellier HSC, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Two of Ligue 1's early-season entertainers meet at the Stade du Moustoir on Sunday, when Lorient host Montpellier HSC.

Both teams have scored more than the current top two but remarkably find themselves near the bottom of the Ligue 1 standings.


Match preview

FC Lorient's Romain Faivre reacts on May 21, 2023© Reuters

Lorient's last four Ligue 1 encounters have been the place to be for goals, as those fixtures have produced an astonishing 20.

Plenty of goals have gone in at the right and wrong end recently, but it is nearly six hours since Lorient last scored a home goal against Montpellier.

They also enter the clash showing no form at all after another defeat last week which saw them go down 5-3 at Nantes - the first time they have scored three goals and lost in 13 years.

After an extremely positive start which saw Regis Le Bris's side draw at Paris Saint-Germain, hold second-place Nice and thrash Lille 4-1, Lorient have fallen off a cliff.

Romain Faivre's 97th-minute equaliser against Monaco is the only thing that has stopped Lorient from suffering three straight defeats.

The two games either side of that draw saw them get hammered by recently-promoted Le Havre, before losing in that eight-goal thriller at Nantes last weekend.

While they are currently in a rut, Le Bris's open style of play has actually often worked this year, especially here at the Stade du Moustoir, because despite only keeping one clean sheet in their last 14 games, they have suffered defeat just three times in their last 14 home matches.

Brest boss Michel Der Zakarian on August 14, 2022© Reuters

Like Lorient, Montpellier have also been an extremely entertaining side to watch, especially since Michel Der Zakarian took over.

In Montpellier's last 12 Ligue 1 matches, there have been 45 goals, a truly incredible figure for such a long stretch of matches.

Der Zakarian's side have been particularly prolific away from home, scoring 20 in their last seven matches on the road.

Four of them came at Lyon on the second weekend of the season, but that remains their only win of the season so far.

A first 0-0 draw in 50 Ligue 1 outings against Rennes last weekend leaves Montpellier a little too close to the drop zone coming into this intriguing encounter.

With Lyon and Lens both in the relegation zone at the moment, that is cause for concern for both sides, as it is unlikely those two will remain there for much longer.

Lorient Ligue 1 form:

Montpellier HSC Ligue 1 form:


Team News

Montpellier's Arnaud Nordin celebrates scoring their first goal on February 1, 2023© Reuters

Lorient have a very long list of absentees at present, but Le Bris could welcome most of them back in the coming weeks.

Quentin Boisgard is yet to feature since returning from a loan spell at Pau FC with a foot injury, while fellow midfielder Bonke Innocent is also absent with a groin problem.

January signing Bamba Dieng will miss out with a groin injury, while a femur contusion currently keeps Ayman Kari on the sidelines.

New signing Tiemoue Bakayoko is yet to make his debut on his return to French football after three seasons away, after arriving from Chelsea with very little match fitness.

Arnaud Nordin and Theo Sainte-Luce will both miss out for Montpellier as they recover from respective thigh injuries.

Captain Teji Savanier is set to start in midfield and will hope to continue a fine run against Lorient, which has seen him score in his last three meetings with them.

Lorient possible starting lineup:
Mvogo; Talbi, Laporte, Toure; Kalulu, Abergel, Ponceau, Le Goff; Faivre, Tosin, Kroupi

Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:
Lecomte; Sacko, Omeragic, Kouyate, Sylla; Chotard, Ferri, Savanier; Al Tamari, Adams, Khazri


SM words green background

We say: Lorient 2-2 Montpellier HSC

Both sides have been among the goals frequently this season, but letting in too many means they are both early relegation candidates.

The two have been prone to drawing matches this season, and the same could well happen again, extending Montpellier's unbeaten run to 14 matches in this fixture.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Lorient vs Montpellier

Lorient
25.9%
Draw
39.7%
Montpellier HSC
34.5%
58
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Paris Saint-GermainPSG30209173264769
2MonacoMonaco30177656381858
3Brest30158744291553
4Lille301410643261752
5Nice3013983324948
6Lens30137103932746
7Rennes30119104436842
8Marseille30101194537841
9Lyon30125133949-1041
10Reims30117123741-440
11Toulouse30910113639-337
12Montpellier HSCMontpellier31911113943-437
13StrasbourgStrasbourg3099123341-836
14NantesNantes3195172949-2032
15Metz3085173149-1829
16Le HavreLe Havre30610142738-1128
17Lorient3068163659-2326
18Clermont30410162149-2822


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