Montpellier – Troyes : Preview & Prediction
A worried Olivier Dall’Oglio saw Montpellier concede 14 goals in the five pre-season friendlies, which the team lost, including one to almost-relegated Ligue 2 side Rodez. “We have a defensive problem,” he commented – which comes as no surprise to anyone who saw them finish as the sixth-highest scoring team in the league last season. With four direct relegation positions for next season, mediocrity at the back is an unaffordable risk.
Montpellier have gone backwards under Dall’Oglio, the first time they have finished in the bottom half in five seasons, conceding an average of 2.33 goals in a nine-game winless streak (E2, P7) to cap an inexplicable collapse of the team, which was hovering around fifth place by Christmas. On the plus side, the non-transfer arrivals of Wahbi Khazri and Arnaud Nordin from relegated Saint-Étienne will be a welcome boost in the final third.
Troyes beat Montpellier away (1-0) in Bruno Irles’ second game as interim coach last season, and after avoiding relegation and staying in the top flight for the first time since the first decade of the century, it looks like he will have the support of everyone to take the team forward.
Despite all this, there are rumors that during the pre-season several players wanted Irles sacked after an argument that may threaten the team’s season before it starts. It won’t take long to see if some of last season’s vices have been corrected, as Troyes was the team that conceded the most goals the first goal of the away game in the first quarter of an hour (five).
Players to watch: Khazri scored in ten league games last season for the first time since 2018/19, half in each half of the match. Although the challenge for the Montpellier man is to keep up the level, having scored just three goals in 16 games in 2019/20. Xavier Chavalerin was Troyes’ lone scorer in the last meeting between these sides, and three of his four Ligue 1 goals away from home last season helped win the game.
Big Fact: Montpellier had the third-best win/draw ratio starting as favorites last season (82% G5, E4, P2).
Montpellier – Troyes : Betting Tips
Montpellier – Win Odds: 2.45
