Montpellier vs Nantes Prediction: Visitors to claim another win on the road

A good run of form has pushed Montpellier clear of danger in Ligue 1 – but will their eight-point lead over the bottom three cause complacency to set in when they host Nantes on Friday (20:00)?

This is a must-win game for the visitors, who are just three points above the drop zone. Can they do it? Here's my Montpellier vs Nantes prediction.

Match Odds

Montpellier are a shade odds-on at 19/20 to win all three points. Visitors Nantes can be backed at 11/4 - while it's 13/5 for the draw.

Team News

Montpellier's Jordan Ferri is available after serving a suspension. His return is expected to be the only change for the hosts.

Nantes could be forced into changes after their 3-0 loss at home to Rennes last weekend.

Nantes - Draw No Bet @ 7/4

Five defeats in their last seven games has seen Nantes slip to 14th in Ligue 1 standings. However, the Canaries head to Montpellier having won four of their last five away games in the French top flight.

Nantes scored the first goal in all four of those victories and could capitalise against a Montpellier side who have opened the scoring in only five of 15 home games this term.

The hosts have won only three home games this term, half as many successes as Nantes have managed on their travels.

In addition, Montpellier have won one of their last six home meetings with Nantes, so there is a strong case for avoiding the hosts at odds-on.

Given Montpellier's paucity of home success this season, backing the visitors at 7/4 in the draw-no-bet market stands out.

#PickYourPunt - Akor Adams 1+ shot on target, Mostafa Mohamed to score anytime, Douglas Augusto to be carded @ 8/1

Akor Adams averages 1.6 shots on target per home game for Montpellier and he could prove to be a thorn in Nantes's side on Friday.

However, with four goals in 14 home appearances, backing him to register a shot on target rather than a goal forms the first leg of our #PickYourPunt wager.

Nantes ace Mostafa Mohamed is the standout option in the anytime goalscorer market. He has scored eight times for the Canaries this season, three of which have been notched on the road, and has netted vital goals in victories at Toulouse and Nice recently.

The forward scored in a 3-0 win for Nantes in this fixture last season and could again make his mark.

Finally, Nantes midfielder Augusto has been booked eight times in 24 appearances this season. He’s particularly foul-prone on the road, having picked up six bookings in just 11 away games in Ligue 1.

The midfielder makes 2.3 fouls per away game on average this season and looks a likely card candidate at the Stade de la Mosson.

Putting him in a #PickYourPunt treble with Mohamed to score and Adams to have at least one shot on target makes up to an 8/1 same-game multiple.

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