Montpellier Vs Lens

Montpellier HSC, battling relegation, will be eager to sustain their recent momentum when they host Lens at Stade de la Mosson for the 20th round of Ligue 1 this Friday. Despite their resurgence, the hosts remain in a precarious position, currently sitting 17th in the league with 15 points from 19 games, three points adrift of safety. On the other hand, Lens find themselves in seventh place with 30 points, just outside the European qualification spots due to an inferior goal difference.

Montpellier enters this crucial fixture riding high on back-to-back victories, having stunned Monaco with a 2-1 triumph before replicating the scoreline against Toulouse. In both matches, they demonstrated their ability to overturn deficits, first against Monaco, where a Musa Al-Taamari brace in the second half secured the win after conceding in the first 45 minutes. Similarly, against Toulouse, after falling behind to a Cristian Casseres goal in the 59th minute, Montpellier responded swiftly, with Modibo Sagnan equalizing just three minutes later. Othmane Maamma then sealed the victory with a late strike in the 82nd minute.

These recent results have injected renewed belief into Montpellier, despite their lingering presence in the relegation zone. Under the guidance of interim manager Jean-Louis Gasset, the team has shown a significant upturn in form, achieving as many wins in their last two games as they had in their previous 17 outings. However, their resurgence faces a stern test against Lens, a side they have struggled against in recent encounters. Montpellier has failed to win any of their last six meetings with Lens, recording three draws and three defeats while failing to score in four of those games.

Defensive frailties have plagued Montpellier throughout the season, as they have conceded a league-high 44 goals. Additionally, their offensive struggles have contributed to their predicament, with just 20 goals scored, making them the joint-second lowest scorers in the division. Addressing these vulnerabilities will be crucial, particularly against a Lens team that boasts the best defensive record on the road, having conceded only eight goals away from home.

Meanwhile, Lens comes into this game buoyed by their return to winning ways. Following a 2-1 loss to reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain, they rebounded with a 1-0 victory over Angers. In their clash with PSG, Lens initially took the lead in the 36th minute through M'Bala Nzola, only to succumb to a comeback defeat. However, they showed resilience against Angers, delivering a commanding performance in which they restricted their opponents from registering a single shot on target while producing four of their own. Ultimately, Przemyslaw Frankowski's 49th-minute strike proved to be the match-winner.

Lens now find themselves level on points with sixth-placed Lyon but behind on goal difference, while they trail Monaco by four points for the final Champions League qualification spot. With European ambitions still within reach, Lens will be eager to build on their win against Angers and string together a strong run of results. However, consistency has been a challenge for the Blood and Gold this season, as they have managed back-to-back wins only twice. The first instance came in their opening two matches against Angers and Brest, while the second occurred between late November and early December when they secured 2-0 victories over Reims and Montpellier in the reverse fixture.

Historically, Lens has dominated this matchup, winning 25 of the 45 encounters between the two teams. Their 49% win rate in this fixture is their highest against any team currently competing in the top flight, further underscoring Montpellier’s challenge heading into this clash.

With both teams having much at stake, Montpellier will be determined to extend their revival and edge closer to safety, while Lens will seek to enhance their European prospects by capitalizing on their historical superiority in this fixture. The outcome of this encounter could significantly influence the trajectories of both clubs as they navigate the second half of the season.