PSG’s 3-2 victory at Brest last weekend means they have managed to score three goals in each of their previous four competitive matches (W4), but they made hard work of the latest success in that run. After storming to a 2-0 lead inside the opening 30 minutes, the Ligue 1 champions were pegged back to 2-2 and needed a late penalty goal in the 89th minute to spare their blushes.
That performance left coach Luis Enrique with a bitter feeling, describing that second half as “the worst” since his summer appointment, and he won’t want to see any of that same complacency against Montpellier, a team that PSG have beaten in the last nine H2Hs. The Parisians have also won the last seven straight home H2H versus their opponents, keeping a clean sheet in five of those, which again seems a distinct possibility this time around considering PSG have secured a shutout in each of their last four home games (W4).
The task is therefore complicated for visiting Montpellier, who aim to secure back-to-back Ligue 1 victories for the first time in six months after their 3-0 success against Toulouse last time out. Despite that win, Michel Der Zakarian’s men sit 11th in the Ligue 1 standings and just two points clear of the bottom three ahead of this weekend.
MHSC have impressed on their recent road trips, losing just two of their previous seven league away matches (W4, D1), but the fact that they haven’t won a Ligue 1 match played on a Friday in four years suggests that record will be tested here (D2, L6). It’s also worth noting that four of those six losses came away, including a 4-0 defeat here at Parc des Princes in 2021.
Players to watch: Possibly disappointed with his third-place finish in the Ballon d’Or this week, Kylian Mbappé will be keen to build on his nine goal contributions in his last five matches for club and country (G7, A2). A standout in Ligue 1 with three braces this season, Akor Adams has helped Montpellier claim points in his four goalscoring appearances (W3, D1).
Hot streak: Montpellier’s previous seven away league matches have all seen one side lead ‘to-nil’ at half-time.
