After missing out on a top six finish in last season’s Ligue 1 campaign, Sunday’s hosts, Montpellier, will no doubt be keen to improve upon their 8th place finish at the end of last term this time around and they hold home advantage for this upcoming clash against Marseille at their Stade de la Mosson.
Just four points separated Montpellier from 6th placed Rennes and if the hosts can replicate the type of form they showed in the latter stages of last season in this new campaign and turn a few draws into wins, then Montpellier could be in with a chance of European football next season.
The GREATEST stadium in the world 🐐 pic.twitter.com/xX1ePPhtjm— Olympique de Marseille 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@OM_English) August 5, 2021
The GREATEST stadium in the world 🐐 pic.twitter.com/xX1ePPhtjm
Montpellier lost just two of their last 16 matches of the campaign, which came in the shape of defeats against Nice and Saint-Etienne, but they also picked up six wins as well to counteract the losses.
Unfortunately, the draw dominated proceedings as Montpellier found themselves involved in no fewer than eight stalemates in these 16 games, but goals could also feature this Sunday as 14 of these 16 matches also resulted in both teams scoring.
Marseille achieved a 5th place finish at the end of last season’s Ligue 1 campaign but they were hampered by an inconsistent streak which resulted in the visitors losing 10 of their 38 matches, with only 6th placed Rennes (12 losses) losing more than Marseille in the top six standings.
Marseille lost just two of their last 11 matches overall in the French top flight last term and both of these losses were incurred away from home in defeats at Nice and Saint-Etienne, while seven of these 11 games also resulted in both teams hitting the back of the net.
However, it was Marseille’s poor results on the road which really let them down and prevented them from achieving a higher finish on the Ligue 1 table as the visitors gained just one win from their last 13 matches on their travels.
That solitary win came in the form of a 3-1 win at Reims but six defeats and six draws suggest that Marseille could have their work cut out if they’re to pick up all three points away at Montpellier this Sunday.
The previous three meetings between Montpellier and Marseille have seen both teams score and Sunday could be no exception.