Les Stéphanois sont plus que jamais en course pour la 3ème place finale et ils vont disputer un duel à distance avec Lyon jusqu’à la fin de la saison. Dans une forme exceptionnelle, le club du Forez compte bien mettre à terre Montpellier et continuer sa belle série de matchs sans défaite. Du côté Montpelliérain, on garde espoir pour la 4ème place en fin de saison mais l’objectif paraît difficilement atteignable. En forme mais freiné par Amiens le week-end dernier, Montpellier va essayer de se relancer dans le Chaudron. Mais au vu de la série actuelle et de l’état d’esprit qui anime la troupe de Gasset en ce moment, la tâche paraît bien compliquée. On mise sur une victoire de Saint-Étienne.
Montpellier have been winning and scoring well with nine goals in their last four matches but their defence has been rather poor in recent weeks. They have kept just one clean sheet in their last eleven games, with both teams scoring in nine of these and if they don’t keep it tight against Saint-Étienne, les Verts will run riot.
And a Sainté win is exactly what we’re backing here. These teams drew 0-0 when they last met in August but with Saint-Étienne’s home record so good, we can’t look past a win for les Verts. Montpellier have a pretty poor away record also with just two wins in their last eleven trips outside of the city. We’re going to back the away side to grab a goal though as they are in fine attacking form so we’re backing a 2-1 win for Saint-Étienne. We’re also backing Rémy Cabella to get on the score-sheet as he has in four of his last six games.
St Etienne are in with a real chance of mixing it with Europe’s elite for the first time since 1981-82 – and can boost their hopes further with a home victory against Montpellier.
One of France’s most successful clubs in the 1960s and 70s, and runners-up to Bayern Munich in the 1975-76 European Cup, St Etienne have been overshadowed by the much wealthier Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco in recent years.
But under manager Jean-Louis Gasset, who has also had two short spells in charge of Montpellier, Les Verts are challenging Lyon for third position in the Ligue 1 table which yields Champions League football for next season.
Now only one point behind Lyon after an excellent run of form, St Etienne will expect to beat Montpellier and hope Marseille can do them a favour by taking points off Les Gones when they host them on Sunday.
Montpellier are seven points behind St Etienne in fifth position but they are almost certain to miss out on a place in the Europa League because the two French domestic cups this term have been won by mid-table clubs in Strasbourg and Rennes, who therefore qualify instead.
In good form themselves, Montpellier are unlikely to be a pushover here, but St Etienne have a big incentive to win and are backed to make it seven victories from their last eight games.
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard will host Friday’s football game between Saint-Etienne and Montpellier. Saint-Etienne aim to extend their winning run in the Ligue 1 to five games and we predict that they are going to stick to their attacking style of play against Montpellier. Les Verts aim to secure a top-four finish, but that is easier said than done.
The hosts have been scoring goals for fun of late, but the game against Montpellier will be anything but a walk in the park for Wahbi Khazri and Co. La Paillade, on the other hand, recorded three wins in previous four league fixtures and seeing that the visitors are eyeing a place in European competitions, we believe that there is a big value in betting on both teams to score. It has to be noted, though, that under 2.5 goals have been netted in each of their last three meetings in the French top flight.
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard will host Friday’s football game between Saint-Etienne and Montpellier. Saint-Etienne aim to extend their winning run in the Ligue 1 to five games and we predict that they are going to stick to their attacking style of play against Montpellier. Les Verts aim to secure a top-four finish, but that is easier said than done.
The hosts have been scoring goals for fun of late, but the game against Montpellier will be anything but a walk in the park for Wahbi Khazri and Co. La Paillade,
Les Stéphanois sont plus que jamais en course pour la 3ème place finale et ils vont disputer un duel à distance avec Lyon jusqu’à la fin de la saison. Dans une forme exceptionnelle, le club du Forez compte bien mettre à terre Montpellier et continuer sa belle série de matchs sans défaite. Du côté Montpelliérain, on garde espoir pour la 4ème place en fin de saison mais l’objectif paraît difficilement atteignable. En forme mais freiné par Amiens le week-end dernier, Montpellier va essayer de se relancer dans le Chaudron. Mais au vu de la série actuelle et de l’état d’esprit qui anime la troupe de Gasset en ce moment, la tâche paraît bien compliquée. On mise sur une victoire de Saint-Étienne.