The 2024 Ligue 1 season continues as Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) prepares to face Montpellier on August 23rd at the Parc des Princes.
After a strong start to the season, PSG aims to maintain their momentum against a Montpellier side looking to improve their position in the league.
This encounter promises to be an intriguing clash, especially as PSG seeks to assert their dominance early in the campaign.
Match Preview
PSG kicked off their season with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Le Havre, demonstrating their offensive prowess.
The match showcased contributions from new signings Lee Kang-In, Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola, and Randal Kolo-Muani, although a majority of the goals came in the final minutes of the game, indicating that Le Havre remained competitive until the end.
Despite their impressive win, PSG’s title rivals, Marseille, also made a statement with a 5-1 victory against Brest, hinting at a closely contested title race this season.
Montpellier, on the other hand, had a less successful opening, managing only a 1-1 draw against Strasbourg.
The team equalized from the penalty spot thanks to Teji Savanier’s 67th-minute goal, but their inability to secure all three points will put pressure on them as they face the formidable challenge of PSG.
Last season, Montpellier struggled defensively, conceding 48 goals, and they will need to tighten their backline to compete effectively against a high-scoring PSG side.
Head to Head
Historically, PSG has dominated matches against Montpellier, winning the last six encounters convincingly.
Across these matches, PSG has outscored Montpellier 23-5, highlighting their attacking superiority.
Last season, PSG defeated Montpellier 3-0 at home and 6-2 away, further emphasizing the challenges Montpellier faces when up against the Parisian giants.
The fierce rivalry has also seen a significant number of yellow cards, underscoring the intensity of these clashes.
Team News
In terms of team news, PSG will be without key players Lucas Hernandez, Fabian Ruiz, and Gonçalo Ramos due to injuries.
Coach Luis Enrique employed a 4-3-3 formation against Le Havre, with Gonçalo Ramos leading the attack.
There is a strong likelihood that both Kolo-Muani and Dembélé will start against Montpellier, providing additional firepower.
Montpellier, under the management of Michel Der Zakarian, has not been particularly active in the transfer market.
Their most significant move was the sale of Maxime Esteve to Burnley for €12 million.
Montpellier is also grappling with injury issues, missing five players: Christopher Jullien, Issiaga Sylla, Theo, Khalil Fayad, and Lucas Davin.
The team’s attacking responsibilities will primarily fall on Savanier, who was their top scorer last season with nine goals, and Akor Adams, who contributed eight goals.
Prediction
Given PSG’s impressive attacking depth and their historical dominance over Montpellier, we predict a narrow victory for the home side.
However, Montpellier’s defensive solidity could pose challenges, leading to a tighter match than the scoreline might suggest.
- Score Prediction: PSG 2-1 Montpellier
Betting Tips
PSG to Win: Betting on a PSG victory is a sensible choice given their strong record against Montpellier and their home advantage.
Over 2.5 Goals: Given both teams’ attacking capabilities, wagering on over 2.5 goals is a promising option.
Both Teams to Score – Yes: Montpellier has shown the ability to score, and with PSG’s occasional defensive lapses, betting on both teams finding the net could be worthwhile.
Teji Savanier to Score Anytime: As Montpellier’s key player, betting on Savanier to score during the match offers an attractive opportunity.
