Gameweek eight of Ligue 1 comes to a close at the Stade de la Mosson on Sunday night, when Montpellier HSC host Marseille.
The hosts are in a precarious position near the bottom at this early stage, while the wheels have fallen off slightly for Marseille following a superb start.
Match preview
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Montpellier have won a French title more recently than Marseille, but they are a long way away from any similar ambitions at present.
Only in 2015-16 have Montpellier made a worse start in Ligue 1 - taking one point - as they have just four points from their opening seven games this season, putting their 15-year stay in the top flight under threat.
Having a defence that has shipped even more goals than a Saint-Etienne side which have lost 8-0 is a clear indicator as to why, with Montpellier's backline currently the most fragile in Ligue 1, with 21 in their goals against column.
One positive ahead of this clash, though, is that all four of their points have come at home so far, with a 3-2 win over Auxerre in their last outing here making up most of that.
However, it has been 18 months since Montpellier managed to win back-to-back home league games, when they defeated relegated duo Angers and Clermont in the 2022-23 season.
Marseille are also unwelcome opponents for Montpellier, considering they have failed to win any of their previous 10 meetings against their upcoming opponents.
Between 1989 and 1994, Montpellier failed to win in 10 straight games against Marseille, but never in their history has that record stretched to 11, so Michel Der Zakarian's side will be out to avoid making unwanted history here.
The visitors hardly come into this game in great shape, though, after some underwhelming results shortly before the international break.
Roberto De Zerbi's side have taken just one point from their last two games, slipping up against bottom-of-the-table Angers last time out, a week after losing away to Strasbourg.
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Those results came as a big surprise after OM recorded a miraculous victory over Lyon in the Derby des Olympique, winning 3-2 despite playing 85 minutes with 10 men.
That saw Marseille move onto 13 points after five matches, but their two recent results have seen them lose pace with Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco at the top.
Away form has not been ideal either, as Marseille have lost six of their 12 games on the road in Ligue 1 in 2024, and they could equal a decade-long worst if they fall to defeat again here.
It is not all doom and gloom just yet though, as Marseille have the chance to put things right over the next two weeks.
Sitting three points behind PSG will incentivise De Zerbi's men to win even more here, ahead of Le Classique at the Stade Velodrome next weekend, in one of the standout fixtures in the French calendar, and back-to-back victories will move them back into title contention.
Team News
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Montpellier will be able to welcome back Tanguy Coulibaly after he sat out the defeat at Reims following his dismissal against Monaco, but a yellow card for Modibo Sagnan took him to the limit, and the central defender will serve a suspension here.
Mousa Al-Tamari is among four players expected to miss out for the hosts, as a sprained ankle saw him not make the Jordan squad last week.
Neal Maupay's first-half red card for Marseille against Angers means he will not feature, potentially handing an opportunity to Jonathan Rowe to make his first start for the club.
Elye Wahi is also available in reserve, but has been out of form since arriving from Lens, and could start as a substitute again.
Faris Moumbagna and Valentin Carboni are out for the visitors with long-term knee injuries, the latter of which was suffered against Angers just before the break, and they will join Quentin Merlin and Ismael Kone on the sidelines.
Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:
Bertaud; Sacko, Dzodic, Omeragic, Mincarelli; Toure, Chotard, Savanier; Nordin, Adams, Coulibaly
Marseille possible starting lineup:
Rulli; Murillo, Balerdi, Cornelius, Garcia; Hojbjerg, Kondogbia; Greenwood, Harit, Luis Henrique; Rowe
We say: Montpellier HSC 1-4 Marseille
Marseille have conceded in all of their last 25 away Ligue 1 games - the worst run of any team in Europe's top-five leagues - and a manager like De Zerbi will not be focusing on correcting that.
However, with the talent they have in attack, the visitors should have enough to outscore a Montpellier side that has the worst defensive record in the division, and in doing so, return to winning ways.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Andrew Delaney
