Montpellier finally have points on the board, crushing Nice after winning both halves by a one-goal margin on Saturday. The result meant that ‘Le MHSC’ are now unbeaten in six Ligue 1 (L1) home games (W5, D1), with an average winning margin of 1.40 goals in second halves across the victories.
The hosts must focus all the way to the end if they are to win. Albeit inconsequentially, they conceded beyond the hour mark to Nice on September 12, and that represented a continuation of a habit from last season, where Montpellier shipped 70% of their home league ‘goals against’ between the 61st minute and FT.
With each of their last four L1 wins coming by a 2+ goal margin, Lyon have clear destructive potential. Overall, they averaged 1.0 penalty goals per match therein. Six of the eight halves across those wins saw Lyon win 1-0, and do so via a penalty on three occasions.
Contrary to the above, Lyon are winless in three league visits to Montpellier (D2, L1), each of which have seen them fail to score before HT. Meanwhile, six (W3, D1, L2) of their last seven L1 trips to Montpellier’s turf have seen the HT points distribution honoured at FT.
Players to watch: Montpellier defender Daniel Congré hit a second-half double in his last home appearance. In turn, 50% (two) of his last four goals have been match winners scored in the 46th-60th minute period.
Lyon’s Moussa Dembélé has scored in each of his side’s last two L1 away wins. Four of his last five L1 goals scored anywhere have come during wins to-nil by a 2+ goal margin.
Hot stat: Every one of Lyon’s L1 away wins to-nil attained by a 2+ goal margin since the start of May 2019 have seen their hosts on the day receive a straight red card.