Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Ligue 1 match.
While Marseille’s direct competitors in the race for European qualification are set to face each other, the southern French side has a prime opportunity to secure relatively straightforward points. Their opponents on 19 April are Montpellier, currently languishing at the foot of the standings.
Marseille
Marseille are going through a rough patch, having lost four of their last five matches. To be fair to Roberto De Zerbi, the fixture list has been far from kind — they’ve had to take on AS Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain, and Lens. Adding to their woes, first-choice striker Amine Gouiri picked up an injury during this stretch. He had contributed four goals and three assists in nine appearances for the team and is now being gradually reintegrated into the squad.
Montpellier
Montpellier, meanwhile, are in the midst of a disastrous run, having lost ten matches in a row. There is little indication that this streak is close to ending. They have failed to score in nine of those ten outings, with their sole goal in that period coming on 16 February in a 4:1 loss to Olympique Lyonnais. Moreover, in eight of those games, opponents managed to score at least twice — including clear underdogs such as Le Havre, Saint-Étienne, and Angers.
Marseille vs Montpellier Prediction
Marseille must take full advantage of this opportunity. They are in dire need of a convincing win to regain momentum, and with their home support behind them, they are expected to push relentlessly until the final whistle. It’s difficult to see Montpellier withstanding that level of pressure.
