Team News: John Utaka, Emanuel Herrera start for Montpellier HSC

Montpellier HSC coach Rene Girard has opted for a strike partnership of John Utaka and Emanuel Herrera for Saturday night's visit of Bastia.

His 4-4-2 lineup includes the creative Younes Belhanda and is captained by Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa.

For the visitors, Frederic Hantz has opted for a three-pronged attack with the prolific Anthony Modeste and Florian Thauvin, although Joseph Barbato is preferred to Wahbi Khazri.

Montpellier: Jourdren; Yanga-Mbiwa, Hilton, Congre, El Kaoutari; Belhanda, Estrada, Cabella, Dabo; Utaka, Herrera

Bastia: Bonnefoi; Angoula, Choplin, Cioni, Sable; Palmieri, Yatabare, Rothen; Thauvin, Barbato, Modeste