With PSG racing ahead in France’s Ligue 1, the race for second place would appear to be the very best that many teams can hope for. And at the moment it is Montpellier who sit behind the table toppers, and they will be looking to continue their excellent recent run of form when they visit an out-of-sorts Angers outfit on Saturday afternoon.
- Angers has not won for five league games, losing three of those.
- Montpellier has won four of its last five league outings.
- Montpellier has won three of the last six meetings between these two teams.
Angers vs Montpellier Game Center
Angers struggling for form and confidence
After a promising start to the season, Angers has been struggling of late and has failed to win any of its last five league games. As a result, the club finds itself just two points above the dreaded relegation zone, with just three wins and leaking goals at a worrying rate of over 1.5 goals per game.
Montpellier, in stark contrast, is enjoying an excellent run of form, having won three league outings on the bounce. They have lost just once all season and, alongside defending champion PSG, have the best defensive record in the division, conceding just seven goals in 12 outings.
It is therefore of little surprise that it is visitors Montpellier who come into this clash as the favorites to take all three points. You can back the away side to make it four league wins in a row at +145, with Angers out at +200 to pick up its first win since all the way back on September 25. A draw comes in slightly higher at +210, but we are expecting a result in this one.
Montpellier to keep up winning run
With Angers hardly in the best form ahead of this game against one of the stronger sides in the league, we are expecting Montpellier to win this contest with relative ease, maintaining its tag as “best of the rest” for now. While it is by no means simple trying to predict the exact scorelines in matches, a comfortable 2-0 win for the visitors is priced competitively at +1000 and, considering the recent form of both sides, looks to be worth backing in this case.
That scoreline would allow you to also back UNDER 2.5 goals in the game, which is priced short at -188, as well as a “No” to both teams scoring, which is also at short odds of just -143. Therefore, in an attempt to boost any potential earnings from this game, it would be prudent to consider combo betting, where you can back multiple outcomes at higher odds.
For example, a combo bet of a Montpellier win coupled with a “No” to both teams scoring is at the higher price of +275, while an away victory combined with UNDER 2.5 goals in the game is higher still, at +333. A total of UNDER two goals in the match is priced at +162, with two or three goals coming in shorter t +100.
Ammour could be given his chance to shine
Teenage striker Yannis Ammour is certainly one to watch in Montpellier colors and he could well be given the chance to prove his credentials on Saturday afternoon. The youngster is at +220 to score at any time during the game, while you can back him at +550 to net either the first or the last goal of the match.
Truth be told, we do not envisage Montpellier encountering too many problems in rolling Angers over in this one. Given their rock-solid defence, they are likely to keep a clean sheet and you can back Montpellier to win to nil (without Angers scoring a goal) at a price of +275.
The side is also at +350 to score in both halves and +900 to actually win both halves – both of which they accomplished in their last away win in Ligue 1 against Toulouse last month.
For Montpellier, we are expecting the upward trajectory to continue, while Angers is likely to be left looking nervously over its shoulder.
