Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Ligue 1 match.
Despite a defeat to Paris Saint-Germain (1:3) in the final round of 2024, Olympique Lyonnais are having an impressive campaign, with one clear objective—to secure a Champions League spot. Montpellier, on the other hand, are at risk of dropping out of the top tier. While the salvation zone is within reach, their defensive issues consistently pose problems.
Olympique Lyonnais
Their setback against Paris Saint-Germain ended a nine-match unbeaten run, and over their last 17 matches, Olympique Lyonnais have suffered only two losses. With the current squad depth, the coaching staff find it relatively easy to rotate players: five of their players have contributed 4+ goal involvements in Ligue 1. By xG, Lyon rank in the top three (29.95).
Montpellier
In 15 Ligue 1 matches, Montpellier have conceded 38 goals, with only Saint-Étienne having a worse defensive record by four goals. Despite their efforts to show character, this often isn't enough to collect points—OGC Nice scored twice with 1.12 xG and six shots on target against them in the last round.
Olympique Lyonnais vs Montpellier Prediction
Away from home, Montpellier have suffered seven consecutive defeats—the strugglers have yet to earn a single point on the road. Lyon have a favourable debut opponent for 2025, so we expect Olympique to deliver at least three goals.
