Olympique Marseille
vs
Montpellier HSC
Kick-off
19:45 GMT
27 January 2017
The Marseille vs Montpellier match will be played on Friday, January 27th, 2017 at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille. This is matchday 22 of the Ligue 1 2016/17 season. Marseille are 7th with 30 points while Montpellier are 12th with 23 points.
The two sides met in Montpellier last November with the home side winning 3-1.
Montpellier has won 3 of the last 6 meetings between the two sides with Marseille winning 2. Of the last 6 played in Marseille, the home side has won 3 games and Montpellier 2. Head to head matches: Olympique Marseille - Montpellier HSC
04.11.2016
Ligu
Montpellier HSC
Olympique Marseille
3:1
02.02.2016
Ligu
Montpellier HSC
Olympique Marseille
0:1
20.01.2016
Coup
Olympique Marseille
Montpellier HSC
2:0
06.12.2015
Ligu
Olympique Marseille
Montpellier HSC
2:2
Marseille are hitting the headlines in their – so far – vain pursuit of Dmitri Payet. West Ham are refusing to budge on their valuation of £30m but with his family back in France, Payet’s leaving is a case when not if. It won’t be in time for Friday’s match but Patrice Evra is expected to make his Marseille debut against Montpellier.
Rudi Garcia is set to welcome back Vainqueur which means Anguissa will vacate the defensive midfield role and return to the bench. With Cabella and Thauvin on the flanks, Gomis shouldn’t’ struggle in front of goal but the ruthlessness which stands between L’OM and progress was underlined in the 1-4 home defeat to Monaco and 1-3 reverse in Lyon.
Payet’s arrival could add goals to that equation but Garcia is aware that they could slip into mid-table mediocrity as climb to 5th, which is where victory will leave them, albeit briefly.
Missing is Abou Diaby who has sadly swapped the Arsenal treatment room for Marseille’s, as well as Tomas Hubocan. Diarra, Bedimo and Alessandrini are all doubtful while Clinton N’Jie is yet to return from the Africa Cup of Nations. Latest matches: Olympique Marseille
22.01.2017
Ligu
Olympique Lyon
Olympique Marseille
3:1
L
15.01.2017
Ligu
Olympique Marseille
AS Monaco
1:4
L
08.01.2017
Coup
Toulouse FC
Olympique Marseille
1:2
W
21.12.2016
Ligu
SC Bastia
Olympique Marseille
1:2
W
18.12.2016
Ligu
Olympique Marseille
Lille OSC
2:0
W
Montpellier are struggling, there’s no other way to describe it. Defeat relegation-threatened Metz sums up how low their form has dropped recently. Away from home, they have the worst record in the division outside of the bottom two and are grateful that their home form isn’t as bad.
On the road, Montpellier has conceded 27 out of their total 34 goals let in this season. It’s baffling how bad they are in these matches. Even the relatively goal-shy Marseille attack will be looking forward to this fixture if this form is maintained.
Defenders Poaty and Congre are missing for Montpellier which hardly helps their cause while the forward line is affected by Ninga’s absence. Algeria’s exit from the Africa Cup of Nations offers the prospect of Ryad Boudebouz being available but whether he is fit to play at such short notice is debatable.
The precarious nature of Montpellier’s position makes it unlikely that he has much choice in the matter.
Latest matches: Montpellier HSC
21.01.2017 | ![]() |
FC Metz | Montpellier HSC | 2:0 | L |
14.01.2017 | ![]() |
Montpellier HSC | Dijon FCO | 1:1 | D |
08.01.2017 | ![]() |
Olympique Lyon | Montpellier HSC | 5:0 | L |
21.12.2016 | ![]() |
FC Nantes | Montpellier HSC | 1:0 | L |
17.12.2016 | ![]() |
Montpellier HSC | FC Girondins Bordeaux | 4:0 | W |
After back-to-back defeats against two of the nation’s best sides, Marseille will be looking forward to this match, believing that they will not only get back to winning ways but also turn their -2 goal difference, positive. Six of their last 8 games featured +2.5 goals so they can find the net, as well as conceding.
Not that Montpellier will find goals easy to score. Marseille has kept 10 clean sheets in their 21 Ligue 1 matches so far, including one in the Parc Des Princes. With the form MHSC are in, winning in the Cote d’Azur may be beyond them. A point will feel like a good result for them.
27 January 2017 - 19:45 GMT
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