St Etienne vs Montpellier - Preview, Live streaming, lineups & Prediction

St Etienne vs Montpellier

SCHEDULE	TIME
GAME	St Etienne vs Montpellier
DATE	05.February.2022
TIME	11:00 AM (UTC)
VENUE	Stade Geoffroy-Guichard (Saint-Étienne)
LEAGUE	LIGUE 1 - ROUND 23

TV Channel Info

More Information

Streaming starts 5 minutes before kick off

Match Preview

◉ Barring a major surge in form, St Étienne are heading towards the club’s first stay in Ligue 2 since 2004/05. Despite ending their seven-game losing streak in Ligue 1 vs Angers last week (1-0), ‘Les Verts’ are still five points from safety, and their loss in the Coupe de France round of 16 against fourth-tier side Bergerac last time out only makes matters worse.

◉ The hosts desperately need to avoid defeat here, or they’ll be remembered as the first St Étienne side to lose five successive home top-flight matches in the club's 102-year history! They can but hope that coach Pascal Dupraz can work his magic, as he has won his previous three personal home H2Hs vs Montpellier in Ligue 1 – all via a 1-0 scoreline.

◉ Ahead of this round, Montpellier sit outside Ligue 1’s top five on goal difference only, provoking dreams of a first European campaign since 2012/13. Their success has been built on great attacking performances, as you have to go back to their title-winning 2011/12 season to find the last time they had scored more goals after 22 rounds (37).

◉ Encouragingly for them, Montpellier have claimed full points in three of their last five Ligue 1 road trips, after going winless in the opening five (D2, L3). Additionally, Montpellier have not conceded in any of their last four road trips to Stade Geoffroy-Guichard too (W3, D1), which should provide them with something of a psychological advantage.

◉ Players to watch: St Étienne will be helped by the return of AFCON participant Wabhi Khazri, who accounts for 37% of their league goals. He could be outpaced by Florent Mollet who scored the game’s opener in his last four goalscoring league matches, and did so in the 11th minute in Montpellier’s last Ligue 1 road trip.

◉ Hot streak: Both sides have played out 23 consecutive Ligue 1 matches combined without a draw.

Saint-Etienne starting lineup:
Bernardoni; Nade, Kolodziejczak, Sacko, Mangala; Macon, Camara, Youssouf, Aouchiche; Sako, Crivelli

Montpellier HSC starting lineup:
Omlin; Souquet, Cozza, Sakho, Ristic; Mollet, Ferri, Savanier, Chotard; Mavididi, Wahi

Prediction

Saint-Etienne 2-2 Montpellier HSC

The upgrades for Les Verts during the transfer window should provide this team with a much-needed spark, however it might take some time for all of those newcomers to learn a new style of play, while also building chemistry with their new teammates.

La Paillade have been clinical in the final third, though they have allowed their share of goals on the road this season as well, conceding three on three separate occasions in this domestic campaign.