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Expected information about the match

France Ligue 1 16.Round

4.12 20:00

Stadium: Stade de la Mosson

Capacity: 32939

Turf: Grass

Distance: 963 km (599 mi.)

Montpellier

Paul Lasne will miss and it can be big blow for team

Paul Lasne - Midfielder (DM) - Regular player

32

18

6

16

1785

2

0

5

0

Pedro Mendes will miss and it can be big blow for team

Pedro Mendes - Defense (CB) - Regular player

31

0

2

0

2669

1

0

6

0

Montpellier are enjoying their greatest start to a Ligue 1 (L1) season since their 2011/12 title-winning campaign (W8, D5, L2) and are yet to lose to a club in the division’s top half (W4, D2).

This is, however, the hosts’ first clash against any team entering the round in L1’s top four. Although an unbeaten run of seven home games (W4, D3) is sure to put them in good stead, as is their ability to start games strongly - Montpellier have conceded just one first-half goal at home this campaign, for a first-half goal difference of 5 (joint second best in L1).

Players to watch: Andy Delort (Montpellier) has scored in six of his last nine L1 starts, while Nicolas Pépé has registered five goals for Lille in his last eight L1 appearances.

Stat attack: The last time both teams scored in the first half of a H2H encounter was back in 2010/11.

Montpellier have opened the scoring in six of their eight L1 home matches (one 0-0, one opposition goal).

It could be the shock of this sixteenth day, Montpellier receives the LOSC, this Tuesday (21 hours)! For this meeting, Michel Der Zakarian calls 18 players but must do without two regular holders: Pedro Mendes, suspended, and Paul Lasne, touched adductors. Keagan Dolly (re-training) and Jérémie Porsan-Clémenté (foot) are also absent for this match in the fight for the podium.

Portuguese international defender Pedro Mendes will serve a suspension match and will be unavailable on Tuesday for the LOSC reception. He will probably be replaced by the young Nicolas Cozza, tenured five times in central defense since the beginning of the season. Midfielder Paul Lasne, touched by the groin in front of Rennes (2-2) on 25 November, will be out again after missing Saturdays trip to Monaco. South African midfielder Keagan Dolly, who suffered a fractured fibula on 15 September in front of Strasbourg (1-1), should not be long in coming back.

Lille

Gabriel is out of selection by coach decision

Gabriel - Defense (CB) - Back-up player

14

11

10

0

3

1064

1

0

1

0

Arton Zekaj is out of selection by coach decision

Arton Zekaj - Midfielder (DM) - Back-up player

1

0

2

0

1

0

Adama Soumaoro will miss and it can be big blow for team

Adama Soumaoro - Defense (CB) - Regular player

20

2

0

1727

0

1

6

1

0

Fourth-placed Lille (W8, D3, L4) have struggled on the road so far, most recently losing consecutive away trips, and have failed to secure a single point away against any L1 club currently higher than 17th place (L4).

In top-flight away outings, the visitors are suffering from a goal difference of -3 in the 76-90 minute period (equal 15th in the league), and therefore will need to focus at the business end of this fixture.

Lille’s last three trips to Montpellier have all produced 3-0 results: one in their favour and two against. They have won three of their last five away fixtures at Montpellier (W3, L2).

Lille’s last six L1 away fixtures have all resulted in a winner (W2, L4).

The sequence of matches is not really felt on the side of the infirmary Lille, which still has only one member. The central defender and captain Adama Soumaoro, recovering from a small calf injury, is indeed a bit fair to be in the group. In trouble against OL on Saturday, Yves Dabila should nevertheless continue the interim in the axis. Absent the group on the coachs choice at the last meeting, side Jeremy Pied and striker Rui Fonte could make their return but Christophe Galtier should trust the same starting 11.

The LOSC has a second challenge in a week! After the OL (2-2), Lille face a second competitor for the podium, Montpellier Hérault. For this trip to Mosson (Tuesday, 21 hours), Adama Soumaoro is again unavailable, touched in the thigh. For the rest, Christophe Galtier can count on a whole group. The same as to confront Lyon.