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Lyon
Ligue 1 | Gameweek 2
Aug 19, 2023 at 6pm UK
Parc Olympique Lyonnais
Montpellier

Lyon
1 - 4
Montpellier

Lacazette (69')
Diomande (13'), Lepenant (29'), Barcola (45+4'), Tagliafico (83')
Lacazette (80')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Nordin (20'), Al Tamari (39', 66'), Adams (89')
Kouyate (51')

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

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

Lyon will be looking to bounce back from defeat on the opening weekend of the Ligue 1 season when they welcome Montpellier HSC to Groupama Stadium on Saturday.

Les Gones suffered a 2-1 loss at the hands of Strasbourg last time out, while La Paillade kicked off their campaign with an eventful 2-2 draw against newly-promoted Le Havre.


Match preview

Rayan Cherki in action for Lyon in February 2022© Reuters

Following a disappointing seventh-placed finish last season, Lyon would have been eager to kick-start the new campaign on a positive note, but Laurent Blanc's men were unable to avoid defeat against Strasbourg.

Despite racking up 65% possession and 23 shots - seven of which were on target - Lyon failed to make the most of their dominance, with second-half goals from Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Lebo Mothiba taking the game away from the visitors.

Nicolas Tagliafico managed to pull a goal back in the 88th minute, but the Argentine's strike failed to spark a comeback, with Strasbourg standing firm and seeing out the win.

Still, Les Gones can take confidence from the fact that they lost just four of their 19 home league games last term, picking up 10 wins and four draws along the way.

Having enjoyed plenty of success at Groupama Stadium last season - scoring 35 goals while conceding just 19 - Lyon will be hopeful of bouncing straight back from last weekend's defeat when Montpellier come to town.

Montpellier HSC striker Elye Wahi pictured in October 2022© Reuters

Montpellier found themselves 1-0 down after just five minutes on the opening weekend, as Gautier Lloris gave newly-promoted Le Havre the lead while silencing the Stade de la Mosson faithful.

After the break, Akor Adams bagged a quick-fire brace to turn the game on its head, scoring two goals in as many minutes to put the hosts in control, but Le Havre refused to lie down.

In the 90th minute, Samuel Grandsir broke through the Montpellier defence before smashing the ball into the net to earn his side a precious point, meaning that La Paillade were forced to settle for a draw.

It is worth remembering, however, that Montpellier picked up the majority of their points away from home last season, claiming 26 of their 50 points on the road, while the Occitania outfit finished the previous campaign with the eighth-best away record in Ligue 1.

Michel Der Zakarian will be hoping that his players can rediscover their impressive away form when they travel to Groupama Stadium on Saturday, although MHSC might find it difficult to recover from last weekend's 90th-minute equaliser.

Lyon Ligue 1 form:
  • L

Lyon form (all competitions):
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • L

Montpellier HSC Ligue 1 form:
  • D

Montpellier HSC form (all competitions):
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • D
  • D


Team News

General view of Lyon players on July 19, 2023© Reuters

Lyon will be without the injured duo of Anthony Lopes and Dejan Lovren this weekend, while Skelly Alvero is suspended after picking up a red card at the end of the previous campaign.

There are also question marks over the fitness of Angola international Clinton Mata, who was substituted midway through the first half last time out, meaning that Sael Kumbedi could come into the starting XI.

Having scored 31 goals in 39 games across all competitions last term, Alexandre Lacazette will lead the line for the hosts, with Bradley Barcola and Rayan Cherki operating on the flanks.

On the flip side, Montpellier defender Theo Sainte-Luce will miss the trip to Lyon as he continues to recover from injury, while Issiaga Sylla is a doubt for Saturday's clash.

The visitors are likely to match the hosts' 4-2-3-1 formation, with ex-Sunderland forward Wahbi Khazri expected to offer attacking support to lone striker Akor Adams, who bagged a brace on the opening weekend.


Lyon possible starting lineup:
Riou; Kumbedi, Caleta-Car, Diomande, Tagliafico; Lepenant, Tolisso; Barcloa, Caqueret, Cherki; Lacazette

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


SM words green background

We say: Lyon 2-2 Montpellier HSC

Given what happened on the opening weekend, we expect Lyon and Montpellier to serve up an entertaining spectacle at the Groupama Stadium, with a high-scoring draw looking like the most probable outcome.



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 over 2.5 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.Over 2.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Lyon vs Montpellier

Lyon
71.4%
Draw
17.9%
Montpellier HSC
10.7%
28
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General view of Lyon players on July 19, 2023
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Paris Saint-GermainPSG12102036102632
2MonacoMonaco1282221101126
3Marseille1272327161123
4Lille126421911822
5Lyon125431916319
6Reims125342016418
7Nice1145221111017
8Lens124531312117
9Auxerre115152019116
10Toulouse124351314-115
11StrasbourgStrasbourg113442022-213
12Brest124171622-613
13Saint-EtienneSt Etienne124171125-1413
14Rennes123271319-611
15NantesNantes112451417-310
16Angers112451320-710
17Le HavreLe Havre11308823-159
18Montpellier HSCMontpellier122191132-217


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