H2H: Lille vs Montpellier – Prediction (Ligue 1

Preview and Teams Comparison.

Currently on an outstanding run of 13 straight unbeaten Ligue 1 (L1) home games (W11, D2), Lille have scored an average of 2.46 goals per match across that period. Significantly, ‘Le LOSC’ have failed to score in just three of their last 21 top-flight home outings. Solid at the back, the hosts have recorded a clean sheet in five of their previous six league fixtures at Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Furthermore, Lille are one of just two L1 sides not to concede a goal at home in the opening 30 minutes of a match this campaign.

Visitors Montpellier travel here after losing just four of their previous 16 top-flight matches (W6, D6, L4), but are still winless on the road this L1 campaign (D5, L3). Furthermore, the fact that they have failed to score in three of their last five L1 road trips will concern the traveling fans. Encouragingly though, ’Le MHSC’ boast the fourth-best away defence this season, conceding just 1.13 goals on average per-away game. Scoring first could be a game decider in any case, as Montpellier are unbeaten across the last 17 L1 away games in which they have scored the opening goal (W12, D5).

Players to watch: Lille’s top league scorer Victor Osimhen has netted nine goals so far this L1 campaign – all of which came at home. Montpellier’s Andy Delort has scored five goals this L1 campaign, with his team unbeaten in each of the games he has scored in (W3, D2).

Stat attack: Lille have scored in both halves in 66.67% of their home league games this campaign – a league high. Montpellier’s L1 away fixtures this term have averaged 1.88 goals per game – the division’s joint-third lowest average. The last eight L1 H2Hs held here have seen Lille go into the interval with a cleansheet.