Thursday 25/09/2014, 20:00, France Ligue 1, Round 6, Montpellier vs Monaco
Montpellier vs Monaco Preview
Monaco's campaign so far has been anything but glamorous and the runners-up are still struggling to close the gap separating them from the leading pack. It is obvious that they will have to fight an uphill battle and the odds of winning the championship in 2015 are slim. In order to get back on the right track, they will need to extend their winning streak and the first step is to prevail on the road at Montpellier.
Montpellier vs Monaco Odds
Montpellier 3.00, Draw 3.30, Monaco 2.40
Montpellier vs Monaco Tips
Montpellier had always had a hard time at winning points against Monaco and home pitch advantage was never enough to put their worries at rest. Tonight they will have to play without five key players and the worst part is that most of them are midfielders. There is always a gap between the strikers and the back line, so without these players the hosts will have a hard time at keeping the ball flowing.
So far, their strategy is easy to read, with Montpellier being the team with the fewest goals scored and the fewest goals allowed. A precise defense is what they hope to keep them afloat and tonight the hosts will feature a starting formation with five defenders and a single striker, most likely Camara.
Monaco is clearly missing Falcao and since the Colombian striker departing for Manchester United, the French side has been struggling heavily. There goals production has dropped sharply and they won most of the games by a narrow margin, something that is worrisome on many levels.
Berbatov is by far their most prolific striker, but with just two goals scored in six games he will need all the support he can get. Manager Jardim is going to send Martial and Germain upfront from the first minute, which says a great deal about his plans. The team needs to take the initiative early on and push opponents into a corner, if they are to emerge victorious away from home.
Key Facts
- The two teams met on 25 occasions and so far Montpellier failed to win a single match against Monaco
- The visitors will be without five players themselves, including Traore, one of the most promising strikers
Montpellier vs Monaco Prediction
This is going to be an interesting match to watch and punters should also take a position, by backing the visiting team. Monaco is clearly the better squad and the head-to-head record is impressive, so there are plenty of reasons to back them at full stakes. Risk-averse punters should take the cover of the 0:0 Asian handicap which reimburses players if the match ends undecided.
Bet: Monaco Draw no Bet @ 1.70 with Pinnacle Sports
